| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Trinity Heights Connector, Gulfside, Jewell Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, March 4, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No issues parking at Cog hiker parking lot. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Ammonoosuc River crossing on the Jewell Link is currently bridged, but water is high and it may not be passable if warm weather persists. Bushwhacking up along the river until you come to the bridge by the Cog Railway would be a safer option. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns on Jewell, but easy step overs. The first few tenths after you enter the woods on descent are quite narrow and might benefit from some brushing out. I would anticipate getting a lot of snow dumped on me in this area after a snowstorm. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
A very unusual day. Drove from the east in drizzle, but sun was coming out on west side of the Presidentials. Intermittent undercast as I climbed, warm and little wind. I used every form of traction today, but a little hard to say what was the best choice. Snowshoes, with televators, seemed best for Ammonoosuc Ravine, which had more and softer snow. Switched to crampons at Lake of the Clouds where there was some fairly significant ice. However, ended up on bare ground near Monroe summit. I think rock spikes might have been adequate since ice seemed somewhat soft due to warm temps. Continued with crampons up to Washington, although snowshoes probably would have been fine too, as snow was more consistent, albeit firm. Crampons seemed best near the Great Gulf, but then challenging bare ground alternating with ice and jumbled rocks from the Clay-Washington col to Jewell. More of the same down to tree line on Jewell, where the snow became consistent enough and a little soft in places to switch to snowshoes. Unfortunately, below the blowdown/dead tree section it was back to rocks and ice for a ways. Switched to microspikes and kept them on back to the car since the snow below this was pretty firm and interspersed with a few more areas of bare ground. |
|
 | Name: |
Jay Baxter |
|
 | E-Mail: |
Jbaxtermdfacs@comcast.net |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-04 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
