| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield (The Chin) (attempt), VT |
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 | Trails: |
Long Trail, Chin Clip ski trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, March 15, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
End of Route 108 |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
no problem |
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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: |
After driving from Camel’s Hump, I start this hike about 2pm, and weather conditions still looked good. The summit was still clear. About halfway up, I can see snow flurries everywhere on the many horizons. Soon it is snowing above me. A bit further up, skier’s tracks were all over, obliterating all parts of the known trail, and at the same time, no more white trail blazers were visible. After some time, I finally found the trail leading to the Taft Lodge, close to the mountain's ski trails. Now, the snow showers had turned heavy into a snow squall, as I came upon the Taft Lodge. The summit was barely visible now. It did not look good. I gave it a shot, but I knew I would have to turn around, and hiked about another 1/4 mile into an opening. The summit I could barely see again and then just disappeared into a whiteout. The snow was accelerating heavily and I knew I had to ABORT- Too dangerous to be above tree line in this seemingly raging snowstorm. So I turned around and departed the mountain. Change of plans heading down. A little past 4pm, with the LT trail barely visible, and the mountain empty of skiers, I was going to take the express down the Stowe ski trails. With the fresh snow, I had the longest butt slides of my life, butt sliding thru mogul fields, but ended up walking down most of the trails. Only took 40 minutes to descend to bottom. A good attempt, but Mother nature won the day, but there will be other days to climb, but not this one. |
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 | Name: |
Gordon |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-03-19 |
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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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