NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Upper Spring, Equinox Mountain, Lookout Rock, VT
Trails
Trails: Red Gate Trail, Blue Summit Trail, Lookout Rock Spur, Yellow Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 27, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at the Red Gate trailhead on West Union Street in Manchester. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No problems. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: One large blowdown blocking the trail on the BST that will require a chainsaw. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Sure. 
Bugs
Bugs: Nope. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: Did a little something new and went to VT today, as Equinox has been on my to do list.

First part of the BST is well packed and bare bootable. Around the cabin, I switched to snowshoes and left them on for most of the day. Route was broken out by one bare booter to the Upper Spring junction. The spur to the spring, more like a water main at this point, was unbroken, as was the BST beyond this point. I broke out the trail from there to the summit in 3-5 inches of powder. Also broke out the spur trail to Lookout Rock from the summit, and the Yellow Trail from Lookout Rock back to the BST. Several bare booters came up behind me, so the trail is a bit of a mess in the upper section. Snowshoes are the best choice above the spring junction. No real ice to speak of, but I did notice the booters were starting to uncover some of it.

Stellar conditions on the summit, bright blue skies and just a little wind. The summit is developed with a visitor center, but it's not ugly. There's an interesting monolith here with a trail map on it, which includes trails not found on the GMC or EPT maps. There was mention of a "Little Equinox Mountain (3313')" but am not sure if it's publicly accessible.

On the spur trail (a snowmobile trail?) over to Lookout Rock from the summit are some vintage metal "traffic" signs, guiding people to the Rock and toward Dorset. Beyond Lookout Rock, a trail continues along the ridge, but I didn't follow it, looks like it gets brushy pretty quick.  
Name
Name: KenM 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kmacgray@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-02-27 
Link
Link: https:// 
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