| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Washington, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Trinity Heights Connector, Cog Rail Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 14, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of room at the USFS parking area, both at the start and end of the hike. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The first crossing on Ammo Ravine took some care to cross due to iced‐over rocks and thin patches of surface ice easily prone to breaking. No issues with other crossings |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Below Gem Pool, the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail was kind of a mess‐ a mishmash of ice and snow that thawed and refroze after the mild spell earlier in the week. Light traction was the way to go on this section. Above Gem Pool, the trail had proper, consistent snow cover and wasn't as icy as I expected. Above the last brook crossing, I briefly switched to snowshoes due to deeper, less tracked out snow cover, but switched to crampons below the Lakes of the Clouds Hut due to increasing "boilerplate" conditions coupled with the steep inclines. Conditions from the hut to the summit of Washington were similar for the most part, and I therefore kept wearing my crampons.
The Cog Rail Trail above Jacob's Ladder was very dicey in spots, with lots of slick refrozen snow and ice/boilerplate conditions, as well as some gnarly sidehilling that could result in a very abrupt and long slip & fall if one was to lose their footing. I kept the crampons on for that section, and wouldn't recommend descending it in those conditions without crampons. Below Jacob's Ladder, the Cog trail was much less hazardous, and I switched back to MicroSpikes at Waumbek Tank.
Cold and slick up there for sure, but it was jaw‐droppingly scenic with the partial undercast, sun shining through the breaks in the clouds, and the snow/rime ice covering literally everything. Totally worth waking up at 3 in the morning! |
|
 | Name: |
Spencer |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-15 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
