| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Franklin, Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, Mt. Clay, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, Mt. Madison, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Crawford Connector, Crawford Path, Mizpah Cutoff, Webster Cliff Trail, Eisenhower Loop, Monroe Loop, Trinity Heights Connector, Gulfside, Clay Loop, Jefferson Loop, Israel Ridge Path, Lowe's Path, Air Line, Osgood Trail, Great Gulf Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 23, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Crawford Connector lot 3/4 full at 5:40 AM, and probably 2/3 full when I returned just after 11:00 PM. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water levels were quite low. Suspension bridge over the West Branch of the Peabody River (near the junction of the Great Gulf and Madison Gulf Trails) is closed, but the ford was a very manageable rock hop. It might be very challenging to find a suitable crossing point at high water levels. Crawford Path was almost completely dry. Even the notoriously wet Great Gulf Trail had no difficult crossings of note. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Numerous blowdowns on the Osgood Trail between treeline and the Osgood Cutoff. Even more blowdowns on the upper half of the Great Gulf Trail (above Clam Rock), increasing in frequency as the trail approached Spaulding Lake. Most of these were fairly easy stepovers and duck-unders. Remainder of the trails in excellent shape. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Would not take a dog up the Great Gulf headwall, due to nearly continuous and often difficult scrambling. As for the northern Presidentials, the trails would be doable for well-conditioned dogs if their paws can handle the infinite series of rough boulders. Southern Presidentials definitely dog-friendly. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not bad at all. I did spray early in the afternoon, but they were only a minor nuisance at stopping points below treeline. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Went on a long Saturday hike in the Presidentials looking for adventure, and I definitely found it. This route was exceptionally beautiful, and exceptionally difficult. Started up the Crawford Connector just before 5:45 AM, completed a Presidential Traverse (passing Mizpah Spring Hut for variety) from south to north, including Franklin and Clay, and returned to the car by following the Osgood Trail down into the Great Gulf, ascending to Mt. Washington a second time via the Great Gulf Trail, and finally taking the Crawford Path back down. Views were spectacular- all summits in the clear, and no noticeable wildfire haze. Trail conditions were unusually dry, which undoubtedly made the trip easier, both through the boulder fields of the northern Presidentials, and down in the Great Gulf. I accidentally took the Osgood Trail the entire way down instead of turning on the Osgood Cutoff, adding a very unwanted 1.1 miles and 450' gain to an already ambitious itinerary. Due to the closed suspension bridge on the Great Gulf Trail, the AT has been bypassed down the entirely of the Osgood Trail (instead of the Osgood Cutoff), meaning the lower Osgood Trail has a fresh set of beautiful white blazes and plaques. As for the Great Gulf Trail, it was unblazed but easy to follow until Spaulding Lake. The headwall is notoriously difficult to stay on route, but there was generally a discernible trail corridor until emerging above treeline halfway up. Blazes? I saw one yellow blaze on the open section of the headwall, which was one more than I spotted the last time. There are also few cairns, often small and inconspicuous, that let you know you're on the designated route. I managed to stay on trail until about 3/4 of the way up the headwall, and only missed the proper Great Gulf Trail exit by about 100 yards. Hopefully the 3rd time will be the charm. Mt. Washington was completely abandoned by the time I got back there a bit after 7:15 PM. Refilled water and refueled at Lakes of the Clouds, and the trip down from there by headlamp was [relatively] quick and easy. No, I had absolutely no desire to revisit the summit loops on the way back. Full details on Unnecessary Climb! |
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 | Name: |
Jason |
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 | E-Mail: |
kurlando7@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-08-28 |
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 | Link: |
 https://unnecessaryclimb.wordpress.com/presidential-double-cross |
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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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