| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Elmore Mountain, VT |
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 | Trails: |
Fire Tower Trail, Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 22, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of plowed parking at the winter lot off Beach Rd. in Elmore. Suggestion: Maybe have more signage on how to get from this parking area to the summer parking and start of Fire Tower Trail. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One small stream on Ridge Trail; easily crossed. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Two blowdowns along upper Ridge Trail. One is minor. The other is large and requires crawling under. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I went with snowshoes round-trip as this was my first visit here and I didn't know what to expect for conditions. That turned out to be the best choice.
Fire Tower Trail had a decent snowshoe track that was a bit churned up from people who were not wearing them. This good track ended at the outlook just below the summit. From there, the steep section of the trail up to the summit had been lightly-traveled. The scramble above the ladder took some attention as there was loose snow over an ice bulge. I grabbed some photos from the cab of the fire tower, but didn't stay there long due to the cold. Views were spectacular in the clear winter air.
Ridge Trail had also seen some light use and snowshoes were essential here. I was fortunate enough to break through a few inches of powder in the downhill direction. Lots of postholes in the deep, drifted snow though.
I started this hike in the late morning as the early morning temps were just too frigid. 6 degrees when I started and 15 when I got back to the car. I'm thankful for the bright sun and just a slight whisper of wind! |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-01-22 |
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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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