| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Jennings Peak, Sandwich Dome, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Drakes Brook Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail, Jennings Peak Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 18, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The Drakes Brook/Sandwich Mtn. Trailhead had room for about 5-6 cars strategically parked. Had been plowed, but very rutted and icy. I was probably the 5th or 6th there around 11:30 a.m. when I started, and only 1 of 2 at 4 p.m. when I finished. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Drakes Brook wasn't high, but did require some care, especially in snowshoes, on the snow-obscured rocks to cross. All other small crossings were easily rock hoppable or able to be stepped over easily. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns on Drakes Brook Trail, one of which was slightly lower and required being crawled under. Otherwise in good shape. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I'm sure they'd love it :) |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing |
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|
 | Comments: |
Sandwich Dome & Jennings proved to be such an unexpectedly wonderful treat today! Took Drakes Brook Trail up to the junction with Sandwich Mountain Trail, the quick Jennings Peak Spur, then over to Sandwich Dome via Sandwich Mountain Trail, then back down again the same way :) Aside from an absolute mess of postholes on the switchbacks heading up the final stretch of Drakes Brook Trail, the conditions were phenomenal. There was largely a good pack down for most of Drakes Brook Trail up until the Drakes Brook crossing which, while not high nor dangerous per se by any means, definitely did require some strategizing when it came to effective snowshoe placement on the buried rocks. The path was slightly less packed from there on and eventually became significantly more obscured/buried between Jennings and Sandwich Dome from being deeply drifted over. I will confess that I did, perhaps, enjoy trudging through said drifts a bit too much ;P Snowshoes were perfect the full way, and probably a good call for a bit longer til the powder's a bit more packed.
All around, the trails themselves were astoundingly beautiful, and so unexpectedly so! I reached each summit just in time for some excellent views before the clouds won over for the afternoon, too :) |
|
 | Name: |
Amelie Crowe |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ameliecrowe22@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-02-18 |
|
 | 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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