| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt Isolation (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, Mt isolation Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 30, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot was nearly empty. About 2 inches of snow when I arrived and over 4 when I left. It had been partially plowed at the end of the day. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Couldn't cross where Rocky Branch approaches the Mt Isolation trail. Found a spot about 1/4 mile upstream. Also couldn't cross where Mt Iso trail crosses. I didn't bother. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Snow started earlier than I expected today - before I parked. About an inch already at the bottom. Put on spikes around 1.8 miles and was glad I did. Trail got much icier after that. Mostly dry to that point, but rapidly became the wet streambed we all expect. I missed the downhill end of the Eng Hill BW (never done it before) and so ended up at the Mt Iso trail junction. When that trail crossed the river, I didn't see a good spot, so I started my own bushwhack (there were a few sets of footprints milling around in that vicinity that I thought might lead somewhere). I never found the Iso Exp BW, just kept trying to move about 290 degrees. I made it to 3500 feet at about 1 PM (4.5 hours), and decided to hang it up. It was more important to keep up my 50+ year streak of coming home alive. Got out just after 4, so 3 hours down. Got about 4 inches of fresh up high, and maybe 2 at the bottom. This made the trail much harder. On my uphill crossing of the RB, the white snow was only on rocks, so I knew where I could step. On the way back, all of the slushy stuff was white, too, and the rocks were less prominent. On the rest of the trail, more or less the same thing. Fresh snow hid all the obstacles, whether mud, water, roots, or rocks. It'll be great after a cold snap and another 2 feet of snow. |
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 | Name: |
Andy N |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-11-30 |
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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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