| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Boott Spur, Mt. Isolation, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Boott Spur Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur, Isolation Trail, bushwhack, Rocky Branch Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, December 16, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
|
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water Crossing on Iso Express is currently ice suspended on rocks with no snow bridge. It held our weight but required crampons. Other hikers were looking for an alternate water crossing. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Extensive blow downs on Davis Path and Isolation Trail. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
We did a one night backpack of Boott Spur and Isolation. On the first day we climbed the Boott Spur Trail. We started wearing microspikes as we encountered a mix of partially packed snow, posthole, and ice flows on trail. The ladder was mostly clear and was fairly easy to climb once negotiating the ice to get onto the ladder. We switched to snowshoes for the last 15 minutes below treeline as we started significantly postholing. We switched back to microspikes at treeline due to the many rocks. Part way up above treeline before the first false summit the terrain was steep and a very slippery sun-hardened crust so we switched to ice axe and crampons. After the first false summit we alternated between microspikes and crampons to the Boott Spur summit. Walking the exposed ridge on Davis Path required crampons due to extensive thick ice above treeline. As we met the treeline we saw that the trail was not broken out yet so we switched to snowshoes.
The Davis Path was rich with blown down trees. We crawled under, over and around blowdowns in snowshoes, postholing over our knees for hours. After dropping our camping gear at the Isolation Trail / Davis Path intersection we continued to break trail to the intersection with Iso Express in the dark, getting lost due to blowdowns along the way. After the intersection with Iso Express the trail was beautiful to the summit. We kept it as beautiful as possible by using our snowshoes although microspikes would have sufficed for that section. We then backtracked to the Isolation Trail / Davis Path junction where we camped.
In the morning we attempted to leave via Isolation Trail by were quickly halted by crippling blowdowns that we had to army crawl underneath on our bellies. We decided to cut our losses and reverse course, walking the Davis Path to Iso Express a third time in snowshoes. At this point that section of the Davis Path is now well packed down via our efforts. We then took Iso Express, a shirt section of Isolation Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, and Rocky Branch to the trailhead. Iso Express was moderately packed out but we decided to use our snowshoes. The water crossing on Iso Express was tenuous. The thick ice with rocks partially supporting supported our weight but crampons were necessary here. The short section of Isolation trail between the bushwhacks was moderately postholed. Engine Hill Bushwhack was packed down but interrupted by swampy mud. Rocky Branch trail had deteriorating cover as we started the descending section, with large areas of exposed rock and leaves, mixed with ice, water, and snow. Consider bringing your rock spikes for Rocky Branch.
A great adventure. Folks don't climb Boott Spur as much in the winter as evidence by the 3 people we ran into on a beautiful weather Sunday. This is truly a gorgeous peak!!! |
|
 | Name: |
NH Hiker |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-16 |
|
 | 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. |
|
