| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Pine Link, Howker Ridge Trail, Osgood Trail, Star Lake Trail, Gulfside |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 10, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Small lot at Pine Link which was full when I arrived at 11 am, but there were several pull-offs just down the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No problems anywhere |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails in typical shape. The worse section was on Pine Link (from the Hut to Howker) but it gets little usage to it was grown in places. Still easy enough to follow and traverse. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw tracks on Pine Link--easy enough for dogs. The higher sections above tree line might be tough on their feet because of the rough rock surfaces. |
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 | Bugs: |
nothing today, quite breezy |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The was my first and last time going this route to Madison. Pine Link was slimy due to the recent rains and slow going. While the specs say this route (Pine Link & Howker Ridge) should be a quick way to Madison (lots of annoying ups and downs), it's not compared to Valley Way which is much faster. I had never taken Star Lake to Adams and it was a joy compared to PL and HR. I descended Air Line Back to the Hut but in retrospect Star may have been a bit easier. The first part of Pine Link leaving the Hut had a small section of mud that was quite deep and unavoidable, and this section was also the most grown-in (no traffic). I wanted some variety in trail choices to these peaks so that was achieved. Star Lake was also out of the wind which was pretty strong from the west, so this gave it more bonus points. The only difficult part of SL was a very brief scramble near the top, otherwise it was no worse than other ascents to Adams. |
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 | Name: |
Tatnic |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-08-11 |
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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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