| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhacks, Isolation Trial, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, April 8, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the large, paved lot off NH 16 just south of Pinkham Notch. This lot is plowed after storms and was down to the pavement today. Free, kiosk in woods, no privy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The only water crossing of significance is on the "Iso Express" bushwhack. We kept our feet dry using large boulders to cross on. The water was only slightly elevated. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
dogs should be fine on all trails. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few flying insects down low. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Out and back using Rocky Branch > Engine Hill bushwhack > Isolation Trail > "Iso Express" bushwhack > Davis Path > Iso summit spur.
Rocky Branch trail: well blazed in yellow for winter travel up to the wilderness border. Not blazed after this. Able to use spikes to the bushwhack start this morning as we started at 0600 and the snow was firm. It was postholed all to hell, though. This afternoon we left on our snowshoes as the snow was mashed potatoes. Our two sets of shoes helped to mash down the posthole massacre. After the cross country ski trail we removed shoes and bare booted out as the trail was mostly bare ground, mud and running water on trail. Well hello spring!!
Engine Hill bushwhack: the one snowshoer did an excellent job breaking out this 'whack, but was followed by a thoughtless bare booter. Totally tore it up. We used snowshoes as we were off trail in the woods and it is logical footwear until the snow melts. The 'whack does meander, but it gets you there. And I didn't have to break it out so I am fine with the track!!! :) Of note, a bushwhack is a bushwhack. Have requisite land navagation skills like a compass and map. I say this because I got to the 'whack only to find my prior recorded tracks in my GPS were deleted. Ooohhhh! This is precisely why I do not rely on technology! I did take a bearing, but was confident in the trajectory of the prior hikers (I could also see Iso's summit today). Snow was firm under snowshoes this morning, complete mashed potatoes on our return. It was soooo soft!!
Isolation Trail: We were not on this trail long. It is not blazed and had no signs of traffic beyond linking the Engine Hill and Iso Express bushwhacks. Very deep snow outside of the used areas.
Iso Express bushwhack: we stayed in snowshoes as it was getting quite warm and the snow very soft. We ended up following the prior hiker's path as it was nice and followed excellent contours. Yes, its a bit different than the route I am used to but this kept things interesting. Thank you for breaking this out and great navagation skills!! The bare booter had also gone on this segment and tore it up, but the soft snow under our two shoes helped to pack it down more. Spikes will not help you. There is no trench to walk on. Some pools of water open, interesting to negotiate.
Davis Path: not blazed. Not travelled beyond the Iso Express bushwhack and the Iso summit spur. Snowshoes a must as the snow is stil nearly three feet here. We continued to try and tamp down the bare booter's mess.
Summit Spur: sign missing. Simple walk in snowshoes up to the open summit and amazing views. Cairns now visible above the rapidly vanishing snow pack. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-08 |
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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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