| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield (The Chin), VT |
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 | Trails: |
Sunset Ridge Trail, Laura Cowles Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, September 28, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking fills up quick at Underhill State Park and they start parking you on the gravel road (today was especially busy and the road was lined with cars for well over a mile). If you want to avoid the inconvenience of parking far from the trailhead, get there really early! |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No water crossings by this route |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trails seem to be in good shape. There was one large birch duck-under blowdown on the Laura Cowles Trail but otherwise nothing notable. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
There are no good water sources along the way, so bring water for dogs. Also, the Laura Cowles trail is particularly steep. I saw three dogs (large and small) doing it today apparently without trouble but it might be challenging for a small or less adventurous dog. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I ascended via Sunset Ridge and descended via Laura Cowles which makes a great loop that finishes the hike at the same trailhead that you started at. However, I don't recommend descending by Laura Cowles because it's a steep trail, and although there hasn't been much rain lately, the trail had a lot of running water, covering the (already steep) rocks with a layer of slime that made them VERY slippery. I don't feel that it's unsafe, but it's a little slow. Sunset Ridge has no such issues, and it might be nicer for descent if you're looking for a loop. |
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 | Name: |
BBQeel |
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 | E-Mail: |
BBQeel@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-09-28 |
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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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