| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Slide Peak, North Isolation, Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
The Direttissima, Glen Boulder Trail, Davis Path, bushwhack, Isolation Spur, herd path, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 30, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We spotted a car at the large, paved Rocky Branch lot around 6:15am (already probably a half dozen to a dozen there but room for more than a dozen more), then drove over the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and parked where there was plenty of room. Given where The Direttissima starts, it would make more sense to park in the dirt lot just south of the visitor's center though. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The small crossings on The Direttissima and Glen Boulder Trail were doable but seemed rather high. The crossing of the Rocky Branch at the jct with the brook that the Iso Express roughly follows was not rock hopable with dry feet but you could keep your feet dry if you had waterproof boots that were high enough. Otherwise, it would be a shallow wade. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There was a very large duck under blowdown on it probably a 1/2-1mi from the trailhead. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Some minor scrambling on Glen Boulder Trail may be difficult for them but generally speaking the trail is steep but not scrambly. Most hiking dogs will probably be okay, just note that the bushwhacks and the major water crossings and if you trust them on such. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not too bad; didn't use bug spray. I think the only time they proved annoying was on the summit of Isolation: black flies. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
The Direttissima and Glen Boulder Trail were blazed I think but I don't recall the color. Blue or yellow. I don't think the section of Davis Path and Isolation (East) Trail we were on were blazed since they were in the Presidential Range - Dry River Wilderness. Below the wilderness area, Rocky Branch Trail is marked with the occasional yellow blaze. There was a very large duck under blowdown on it probably a 1/2-1mi from the trailhead. I imagine there were a number of other blowdowns as well but I don't recall where. Note that there were a number of blowdowns near the upper terminus of the Iso Express, one of which was blocking the start of it.
Another "love" hike with a dear friend to help him get Isolation for July. The Direttissima and Glen Boulder were slick and wet in the morning and the humidity certainly didn't help. That being said, Glen Boulder was still very negotiable as it's mostly just steep, not scrambly. It had been more than 7 years since I hiked this trail and it was rewarding to be on it again. Beautiful walking in the alpine zone and great views though ours were sometimes obscured by clouds. The winds were predicted to be quite strong but we were quite sheltered from them until we hit Davis Path where they were quite exhilarating but not dangerous/unnegotiable if you're used to such things. Once below treeline, the trail doesn't immediately become a flooded, muddy mess, but the closer you get ton Isolation, the worse it becomes. We did the very short whack to the unrecognized summit of North Isolation for the Trailwrights 72 along the way. While I wouldn't quite call it a herd path just yet, it's clear that lots of people go a particular way to reach the summit. Surprisingly, we saw very few people along the exceptionally wet/mucky sections of Davis Path between Iso Trail and the summit, made the short steep climb to the summit, and enjoyed it to ourselves for a bit before heading back.
With the threat of severe thunderstorms lingering, we took advantage of our car parked at Rocky Branch and chose to descend that way instead using the Iso Express and Engine Hill whacks to descend. The start of the Iso Express is more obscure than it used to be as a blowdown is blocking it. That being said a herd path is discernible for quite a ways though horrendously wet and mucky. The fool proof way to not get lost on Iso Express is to just follow the drainage down and this is more or less what the route does. That being said, for me, I lost the herd path once it comes to the brook (though it more or less follows it from the start, it's not much of a flowing brook for a ways) and (maybe??) crosses it. I think this is about 1/3mi from the col. From here, we stayed close to but more or less on the north side of the drainage the entire time. While we lost the herd path, we found pretty good woods and was mostly able to stay dry. As you descend further, things get flatter and the footing becomes wetter. More undergrowth too so more difficult to discern a herd path. That being said, we found lots of signs of humans and off again, on again herd paths. Did not find much surveyors tape at all so hopefully people aren't relying on this. Got into some thick stuff as we neared the jct of the drainage and Rocky Branch. Though this is lower than where most people start this route, the advantage is once you cross the Rocky Branch you'll come to some pretty amazing logging relics on the other side. Short whack from there to the trail. Grades along this whack increase as you near ridgeline but are generally gentle-moderate.
Once on Iso Trail, we walked a 1/4mi north to the 3200ft contour, then began the Engine Hill whack. Of my other two recorded tracks of the Engine Hill whack, we stayed quite true to the 3200ft contour the entire time, only dropping below it as we reached Rocky Branch Trail. The woods were mostly good and I mostly managed to keep us out of the crazy wet stuff until the very end which I think will always be difficult when there's not snow on the ground. Hitting the birch glades was a real treat too :)
The rest of the hike out was prety quick and uneventful. For a ways, the trail has got some running water and such on it, but eventually dries out. Nice talking with a couple that camped out the night before on our way down. It began to rain some but not too hard and it ended before too long. Overall, this was an unsurprisingly wet hike but with great views and company, and we felt we hit the bushwhacks pretty well. An added bonus was seeing a bull moose eat to its hearts content along Davis Path north of Iso. Lil Young nearly ran into it until Al pointed it out. We got to observe it up close and for quite some time :) Gaia had us at about 12.5mi, 3700ft of gain, 9hrs. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney and Lil Young |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-07-05 |
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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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