| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Clay, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Cog Rail Trail, Gulfside Trail, Mt. Jefferson Loop Trail, Mt. Clay Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 12, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at cog. $10. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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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: |
Up and down the cog to Jefferson. On the way back, I went over Clay (bypassed it on the way to Jefferson). Spikes from the trailhead to about 4,000, where I put on crampons. The section up through Jacob’s Ladder was, like last weekend, icy enough that I definitely wanted crampons. Once I got to the top of the steeper portion, spikes went on and stayed on the rest of the day, including the descent down the cog. Above tree line is a mix of rocks and frozen granular. In general there’s more rock than not, but I definitely wanted spikes. There are a couple of quite impressive snow fields on the east side of Clay. They’re supportive for now but will likely soften up.
No more need for snowshoes if you’re going above tree line and taking the cog both ways. Spikes and crampons only. IMHO an ice axe is overkill but I did see some people carrying them past Jacob’s Ladder. |
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 | Name: |
IanB |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-04-12 |
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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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