| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield (The Chin), VT |
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 | Trails: |
Long Trail, Profanity Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 8, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked in the lot at the end of the plowed portion of 108. Short 5-10 minute walk to the trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Good shape below treeline. Had no issue seeing blazes on Long Trail (despite them being white), lots of them around. Tricky following things above treeline though, not unexpected. Profanity Trail could use a few cairns leading from treeline to the junction, the blue blazes on the rocks are not helpful when snow covers all but 1 of them, haha. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw lots on the road only. Owners should clean up after their dogs... |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found a snow basket high on the Profanity Trail. |
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 | Comments: |
Mostly packed up to the top of the glades, lots of crossing ski tracks but enough blazes to easily figure out the proper direction. Slightly lumpy from a lot of barebooters, but not bad. Above the glades to Taft lodge was unbroken 6" of powder, now loosely packed but a string I barebooters/microspikers were heading there and likely made a mess of it.
At Taft Lodge I goofed. The plan was to take the Profanity Trail but at the junction I didn't realize the Profanity Trail descended slightly, and I found myself on the Long Trail. I decided to give it a go. DEEP powder above treeline and even deeper above the col. It was 2' or more deep most of the way up from the col, with occasional supportive wind-packed sections. The first ledge was tough to get up, but the upper ledge was drifted so deeply I was worried about slipping off the no-fall zone. Slow, steady, careful kicksteps got the job done but I don't want to do something like that again. Super-sketchy.
Windy and cloudy up top, but still some nice nearby views. Poked around and eventually found where the Profanity Trail drops off the ridge and while not really broken out until I met a skier and snowshoer coming up, it was easy going back to the Taft Lodge. Tons of skiers playing in the glades, just keep an eye out as their tracks co-mingle with the trail for short stretches. Fun day out, an awesome snowshoe, though I could have done without the missed turn...I highly recommend the Profanity Trail only from this side right now. And bring the snowshoes, conditions are great for them! |
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 | Name: |
madmattd |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-02-08 |
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 | Link: |
 https://mattshikes.blogspot.com |
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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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