| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield (The Forehead), VT |
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 | Trails: |
Mountain Road, CCC Road, Eagle's Cut Trail, Maple Ridge Trail, Rock Garden Trail, Wampahoofus Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 23, 2011 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Room for 10-15 cars on the Mountain Road, where the plowing ended (lot was full by days end) |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Goggles |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The lower trails were all in good shape. Higher up on the Maple Ridge trail, the trail was more difficult to follow due to snow load on the ground and in the trees. Found lots of spruce traps. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The plan had been to traverse the ridge from the Forehead to the Chin, ascending Maple Ridge and descending Sunset Ridge. All trails to the start of the Maple Ridge trail were well traveled and consolidated. First half mile of Maple Ridge had a foot of new powder needing to be broken out (only the faintest trough in the snow). At the Frost trail jct, we picked up tracks again for the next quarter mile when they abruptly left the ridge descending toward Butler Lodge. Not finding anything else, we followed it down, noting what appeared to be another trail leading back up to the ridge. After 10 minutes of descending, it never materialized and we climbed back to the ridge to regroup. More searching yield nothing so we actually started down, only to think better of it and re-ascended. Just before admitting defeat, we pushed thru a wall of snow which turned out to be a blowdown completely covered in snow, blocking the trail. NOTE: there is no sign marking the jct of the Maple Ridge and Rock Garden trail. Once back on track, we again broke trail to the Wampahoofus Trail jct, where again we picked up tracks coming up from Butler. The final .2 was very steep but doable in snowshoes. The wind and cold had been manageable until the final .1 mile to the Forehead, but with the thermometer off the scale, visibility 100 yards and winds in excess of 30 mph, discretion became the better part of valor and we bailed after reaching the Long Trail. Trailhead log book showed 2 other groups of 2 heading up Sunset Ridge for the Chin. |
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 | Name: |
MikeL |
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 | E-Mail: |
larossm@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2011-01-23 |
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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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