| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield - The Chin, VT |
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 | Trails: |
Long Trail, Cliff Trail, bushwhack, ski trails |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 22, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Long Trail up from Route 108 is poorly marked and the herd paths meandered throughout the open forest on-and-off the trail proper. Mixed conditions of exposed ground and rocks at lower elevation, lots of ice, and eventually decent snow cover beginning around 3000 feet elevation, but the trail is not well packed, and there are lots of post holes.
The final .2 mile to the summit is ledgy, steep, and technical. Full crampons and ice axe (of which I had neither) would be ideal. Restated, not the best winter route for ascent, and definitely not for descent.
I descended via the Long Trail South to the Cliff Trail, which was impossible to follow, and I ended up bushwhacking to the gondola, and then following the ski trails down.
I was stopped briefly by a very pleasant and professional ski patroler, who was kind enough to let me complete my descent via the ski trails.
There was more snow at elevation that expected, a couple of feet, more or less. |
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 | Name: |
Del |
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 | E-Mail: |
dlefevre@tarbellpa.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-22 |
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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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