| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Champney Falls Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 19, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking lot was not plowed after the overnight snow, but it was about an inch so it was easily passable. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Ice bridged, though the third one still has some open spots. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No concerns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
My dog had the same issues that the humans did (see comments section) but other than that, she had a blast, as always! |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
It is absolutely always the right decision to turn around. Kate and I made the call to turn back after struggling up long stretches of ice between the lower and upper junctions for the Falls spur. In retrospect I should have been concerned about this, after the more-than-normal amount of ice that I saw on the UNH Trail to Hedgeho yesterday, but with Champney Falls Trail I pretty much just worry about those side-tilted ledge scrambles in the switchback area. We had new and not new Hillsounds and we couldn’t get traction in multiple spots. Even the flatter spots were wicked icy.
Snowshoes would have been worse (I have trouble kicking the big crampon into hard ice.). Full crampons would be better, and I have them, but a full crampon hike was not what I was interested in doing!
We had been targeting sunrise so after turning around we wandered out to Champney/Pitcher and caught some awesome pink color over Pitcher.
I can’t even tell you how many times I have hiked Chocorua, but it will be there another day. And so will we! |
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 | Name: |
Bikecamphikegirl, Kate, and Echo |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-01-19 |
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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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