| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, Mt. Monroe, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Jewell Trail, Boundary Line Trail, Jefferson Notch Road, Caps Ridge Trail, Jefferson Loop, Gulfside, Israel Ridge Path, Airline, Airline Cut-Off, Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Fallsway |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, May 3, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at USFS Ammo. Jefferson Notch Road has some minor damage to the roadbed. It is still very soft and has snow/ice on it. It wont be opening anytime soon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The lone crossing on the day of Clay Brook was doable but required some thought. Or some shimmying on a perfectly placed down tree. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
12-15 trees are down on Cap's Ridge. More information was forwarded to the trail maintainer for planning |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A FINE day was had above the trees. We needed May 3rd, and the forecast was favorable, so we went to visit the Northern boys. No spikes, no shirt, no problem. Jewell, Boundary Line, and JNR where quick, and devoid of snow (though JNR had patches still, but avoidable). Snow depths vary from none to 3' from the summer lot to the Caps. However I'd estimate atleast half of the trail is snow free at present, and the other stuff was largely supportive of human weight. Great fun on bare Caps. What was an undercast turned into us being in the clouds. We resembled the Prozac rock from the commercials, where ever we went, the clouds followed us. Bare ground up and over Jefferson. Upper snowfield is holding snow well, and its solid. We truffle-shuffled through only about 2" of corn snow on the top. The main snowfield was about minister-of-silly-walks sinking in at about 3-6" of corn but supportive. We where the first ones through recently, as witnessed by a lack of foot traffic. Would not suggest snowshoes in this section. We made a large switchback up around the crown and back out of it. Intermittent snow along Gulfside from Edmunds to around 5300 on Gulfside (the normal section in the area of the shoulder of Sam Adams). We continued to bareboot as the snow was supportive and posed no real issues. I think we both post holed maybe twice in this snow field, but its short lived, and then back to rock hopping. Ran into a familiar pair around Thunderstorm. Took the AARP version of Adams, that of coming up from Thunderstorm. So much more enjoyable - and a quick 0.2! No issues dropping off. We opted to fill in some redline for Dragoon on the Airline Cut-off, of which we where mostly on it. The tracks I followed appeared be someone on their own journey through the trees, so I stopped doing that. No issues to Madison. Snow has melted approximately 1' at the STOP! sign in the last week, but still about 4' up there. Rock solid rail on the way down to about 4000, then begins to decay at an increasing rate until about 2800 or so - then snow free. Noted wild oats, trillium errectum, trout lillies, spring beauties, and wood anemones - mainly near the many on ramps to the Fallsway. If you are looking for a Presi Traverse, I'd say your clear for takeoff for trail runners from what I saw - atleast I personally would be. Your feet will be wet in boots or trail runners. It's May in the meowntains, it's always a wet delight. Just embrace it. |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat, Dragoon |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-05 |
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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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