| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None! Set out for the ridge loop though., NH |
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 | Trails: |
Old Bridle Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, March 13, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No running water unless you count the tears generated from looking down at the trail. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Due to snow cover, I only was able to see the actual trail 8 or 9 thousand times through small, foot-shaped windows that would not have been made possible with proper snowshoe use... but it appears to be in good shape. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No doggies on this -20 windchilled morning, thank heavens. |
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 | Bugs: |
Yes it did. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost my sanity. Found high blood pressure. |
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 | Comments: |
All the tireless hard work of the noble snowshoe-less hiker is on full display on Old Bridle Path. If you've ever found yourself hoping for an excuse to stare more at the trail in front of you and less at the surrounding natural beauty, then you will want to drop what you are doing and head to the trailhead now, friends; as a fastidious gaze at your next steps is not so much a recommendation as it as a requirement, lest you break your ankle in any one of the millions of icy, leg-shaped tombs dotting the trail or trip and fall into a wintry oblivion while nursing your second compound fracture of the day. Small wonder then that I was overcome with joy when a dusting of snow over the bucolic landscape during the hike conspired to hide these man-made snares WHILST descending JUST enough to create a false sense of sure-footedness. This nearly resulted in a rolled ankle numerous times; especially when the crampons were on, which are also highly recommended due to the 3-4 steep sections that are now predominately ice.
I turned around at the hut so I don't know if the frozen hellscape of selfish absent-mindedness and ill repute continued to Lafayette, but then again I should assume it did, as when have continuous 3 foot-deep stovepipes ever deterred these dedicated trail angels??
Nice morning though. And you don't currently need snowshoes :) |
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 | Name: |
JMP |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-03-13 |
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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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