| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail, bushwhack, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, January 26, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot not plowed as of this PM with about 3" to 4" of wet snow. Probably will be plowed tonight, but not a problem for AWD or FWD. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One real crossing on Iso Express is ice bridged as long as you don't mind a tight squeeze on the opposite bank. Note: crossed in snowshoes. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One huge blowdown near beginning of Rocky Branch which is a big step-over. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great trail for dogs |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
nichts |
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|
 | Comments: |
A group of three hiked it yesterday and did some postholing in snowshoes on the lower 1 1/2 miles of the trail (see Thursday's report). It snowed while I was hiking (in snowshoes), but I was still able to do little to help the postholes. My shoes were larger than the holes and the snow had hardened a bit.
The trail is still easy to follow - there is a well defined trench. Take Rocky Branch to Engine Hill Bushwhack. The bushwhack hits isolation Trail almost directly across from the Isolation Express Bushwhack (which is suuuweeet). The Iso Express takes you up to Davis Path which takes you to the Isolation Spur (signed). Frankly, in the conditions, it looks like one contiguous trail all the way to the summit. There is only one real water crossing which is at the beginning of the Iso express. It is completely ice bridged if you don't mind a tight squeeze on the opposite bank. Keep in mind that I crossed in snowshoes. By the time I finished there was about 4" of wet heavy snow at the trailhead. There's a little more higher up but it's powdery.
On my way down I was able to smooth out a lot of the postholes with the heavy snow by dragging the heels of my snowshoes. Also, there was one woman about 1 to 2 hours behind me which should have helped pack it down some.
As for traction... I would wear snowshoes (and I hate wearing them). I hate wet feet even more and no matter how waterproof your boots are, eventually they'll soak through and snowshoes help keep the snow off your boots. But, the footbed seemed pretty firm under the new snow. I'm just not sure if it's firm enough for bare booting. And snowshoes provide the best traction for the condition of this trail which ranges from mashed potatoes to powder. |
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 | Name: |
Tomats |
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 | E-Mail: |
tomats62@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-26 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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