| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Mt. Monroe, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Jewell Trail, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Cog Rail Trail, Trinity Heights Connector, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Cog Connector |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, March 8, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the Ammonoosuc lot off the Cog Railway Rd. This is a fee lot ($5 per day or a WMNF pass). Well plowed after storms. All pavement showing today. Kiosk. Stocked privies. The road is in spring conditions. Frost heaves abound. One section of road mildly flooded. Simple to drive through. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The biggest obstacles were on the Ammonoosuc. One crossing at the head waters of this mighty river was achievable by stepping down off a large snow ledge into shallow running water. No other option. Just step into the inch deep water to cross. The other, at the Gem Pool was conquered by using protruding rocks. All other crossings were bridged or hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Met two dogs enroute to Jefferson. Friendly. Loved the one that reminded me of Brutus. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Jewell > Gulfside (AT) > Mt Jefferson Loop > back to Gulfside > all the way to the Cog Railway > then a bit more on Gulfside > Trinity Heights Connector > Crawford Path > Mt Monroe Loop > and back to Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail > Cog Railway Connector.
Jewell: well blazed in blue. Large, supplemental cairns mark the way above tree line. The start of the trail mandated spikes as the monorail made an appearance a month early. Then, the snow vanished. From 2000 feet to 3600 feet, there was very little snow on trail. Virtually none off trail. So strange… Spikes worked best to deal with the alternating snow/ice/bare trail. It was here I ran into Chantal. A hiking buddy I hadn’t seen in 2 years. Ha! Amazing! So glad I was able to hike the rest of this adventure with her!
Gulfside: I have to break this down as I was on different segments of this trail.
- From the jct with Jewell moving to Jefferson it was a post holed massacre. But, I put on my snowshoes to see if they would help and they decidedly did not. Believe me, I tried. It was just too bony. I fatigued of trying to negotiate the rock fields sandwiched in between the drifts in snowshoes. So, at the jct with Mt Jefferson Loop, I put back on my spikes. The snow switched often between soul sucking drifts and hard packed snow. As temps warmed, the snow then also became clingers. Balling up on the spikes. In any case, some form of traction is warranted. It was on this trail that I had the pleasure of finally meeting BikeHikeCampGirl. What an amazing event!! So nice to have met you!!!!
- From the Jewell jct heading to Washington: it was the same as above. My snowshoes would have kicked butt in some parts. But these were short. Then the protruding rocks would make an appearance. Thus, though there is no good trench established, spikes worked best. Expect slow, semi postholing conditions.
- We tried a small segment from the jct with Mt Clay Loop heading up to Washington. Man, this section was sketchy as heck!! I don’t recommend it. Take the Westside trail until it intersects with the Cog Railway.
Mt Jefferson Loop: plan to use spikes. Cairns mark the path here in this melted snow wasteland. Minimal snow amounts, but just enough that traction needed. Not enough for snowshoes.
Cog Railway: we only took this for a small part heading off of Gulfside, towards Mt Washington. But it was a packed down dream after Jefferson and Gulfside. Spikes or snowshoes will work fine.
Trinity Heights Connector: this is the AT and all supplemental cairns were visible. Nice packed trail to summit. Spikes or snowshoes would work fine.
Crawford Path: this is the AT and has both white blazes and large cairns to mark the path. At first the path from Washington’s summit is hard packed and easy going. Then enters the area that would be great for snowshoes. Drifts, soft snow, etc. Lots of postholing… but this is short lived. Then come the rocks, ice and major snowfield. So spikes or full traction are best. The snowfield requires attention. It is doable, just with care and cognizant foot placement. An ice ax would not be out of place over this field. By the time we traversed it in mid afternoon, the snow was tacky and let us walk across it without issue.
Mt Monroe Loop: large cairns mark the path. The first 0.2 miles are ice infused. Traction encouraged. There are lots of flows. Then, the snow and ice vanish and bare trail emerges. For moments. Then small ice segments return all the way to the summit. Spikes worked best. Even though I damaged them on the bare rock and trail.
Ammonoosuc: traction. Wear traction. Above tree line medium sized cairns mark the path. Below tree line is blazed in blue with helpful arrows at critical turn points. There is a mix of hard packed monorail and ice in upper elevations. Descending, postholes increase as does the monorail. It’s sloppy snow that sends the hiker sliding into the next ankle twisting posthole. We wore spikes to stay balanced on the monorail.
Again, so happy have reunited with the illustrious Chantal and to have finally met BikeHikeCampGirl!!!!! |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-08 |
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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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