| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Washington, Mt, Monroe, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Pierce, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Cog Rail Trail, Gulfside, Trinity Heights Connector, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Eisenhower Loop, Webster Cliff Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 20, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Crawford Depot on 302 and drove over to the Cog lot ($10 per person). Plenty of spots open at both lots today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None on this route. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are a few blowdowns on Crawford Path below Pierce. One leaning cluster higher up that you can walk under currently, once down it will be a bit of work. Another crawl under lower, lots of fresh saw work in this section as well (thank you!). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen on the trails today. Most hiking dogs would be fine on this hike. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Kurt's grid finish hike with Eisenhower being his #576!
Snow starts on Cog Rail Trail just below 3k ft, We tossed on snowshoes as the snow was very soft here, at this elevation temps were well above freezing this morning. I kept the shoes on passed the steep section above Jacob's Ladder then the snow depths dropped and what remained was hardpack. Lots of bare rock above treeline, and any snowfields were solid since a) the temps were below freezing and b) the sun was blocked by heavy cloud cover. It wasn't until we were passed Monroe before we started seeing snowmelt. Lots of standing water and mud but, snow depths here were minimal so spikes were the right choice. South of Eisenhower there are short sections of monorail forming, stretches of bare rock, then stretches of snow, repeating sequences. Crawford path's base continues to remain the best in the Whites, minor postholes off the sides but the center is supportive well below Mizpah Cutoff, then deteriorates in integrity but remains mostly until passed Crawford Connector.
Weather conditions drastically changed throughout the day. Light rain to start turned into freezing rain, sleet, and at times heavy snow with a moderate but steady wind. Visibility as you would have guessed was poor, but the winds seemed to drop right as we approached Washington. As we hit Eisenhower the clouds began to clear, perfect timing for a short celebration. Surprisingly, we only crossed paths with 5 other hikers all day, and none from Pierce to 302.
Returned to my truck to find a gift from Hiker Ed, thanks Ed! |
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 | Name: |
Kyle L, E.T. Fudge & Kurt |
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 | E-Mail: |
kjlanctot g mail |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-20 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/11226179411 |
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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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