| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Major, Straightback Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Boulder Loop Trail, Brook Trail, Belknap Range Trail, Dave Roberts Quarry Trail, North Straightback Link, Mt. Major Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 2, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room at the Mt. Major trailhead. The lot was never more than half full. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings of Minge Brook on North Straightback Link and Brook Trail were straightforward rock hops, with only one step on a submerged rock with 1" of water running over it. No significant issues. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No major blowdowns. Trails were generally easy to follow, though follow orange blazes carefully on Boulder Loop Trail through the bouldery areas. All signs are in place. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
They need to be comfortable on thick, steep ice. Saw a couple of them. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
A face rag was hanging from a tree branch on the lower Brook Trail. |
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|
 | Comments: |
As we were getting ready to begin the hike, a couple came down from Boulder Loop Trail at the end of their hike. Their first words to us were, "Hope your spikes are sharp." They were absolutely right - ice would be the overarching theme of the hike.
Boulder Loop Trail was indeed very icy, right from the start. I wore regular microspikes, but also brought Hillsound Trail Crampons which may have been useful at some points. But there were also some bare patches interspersed between the icy sections, and sharper spikes would've gotten really banged up there. There wasn't any type of footwear that would've bene perfect for all conditions. The middle section of Boulder Loop Trail had a section of very thick ice, but we were still able to find enough traction with normal spikes to get up. The two steeper pitches further up were both mostly bare rock and ground. It was the sort of trail where you either take your spikes on and off a dozen times, or just accept that your spikes will get a little duller on the rocks.
At the summit of Major, we met a two women who had hiked up Brook Trail and were going back the same way, and we joined them down to the point where Belknap Range Trail peels off from Brook Trail to lead toward Straightback. The upper Brook Trail had some ice but mostly wasn't too bad - the steeper pitches needed to be taken very carefully though. As soon as we left Brook Trail to head toward Straightback, the trail became more packed snow and less ice - it was clear that fewer people used that trail section. From there to Straightback, there were still a few small icy areas that needed to be taken carefully, but overall it was somewhat more quick-moving.
From the summit of Straightback, we continued briefly on Belknap Range Trail toward Anna - this section had a steep pitch with some very impressive and thick ice bulges. We went around those. Soon after, we turned right onto Dave Roberts Quarry Trail - there's a cairn at the junction, but the sign is somewhat hidden behind some tree branches. DRQT was also clearly less traveled than the trails on Major - many parts of it had a monorail beginning to form (which luckily was still snow, not ice), and stepping off it could result in postholing about a foot into the remaining snow. North Straightback Link was a steep and sustained descent - there's a rocky section near the top that's a bit icy and required care to descend (we bushwhacked around one particularly icy ledge). The rest of the trail went through open hardwoods and alternated between moderate grades and steeper sections - any icy spots there can be bypassed alongside the trail. When we got back on Brook Trail, the first one or two tenths of a mile was very icy descending. The more gradual sections were nicer, but the flat area at the junction with Mt Major Trail was all ice completely across the trail. Spikes gave good grip on it, but that area will be very slushy when it warms up.
This was a very enjoyable hike! We got out before the rain started. But the moral of the story is definitely that you need good spikes for this hike - if you don't have them, you probably won't make it up to Mt. Major, and you certainly won't make it safely down. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-02 |
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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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