| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Abraham, VT |
|
 | Trails: |
Battell Trail, Long Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 28, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot is plowed, room for maybe 8-10 cars |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues crossing anything |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The section from the junction of Battell & Long Trail had approximately 25 blowdowns / large limbs that have fallen on the trail bed. Nothing that a silky big boy cant handle for spring. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A pack of goldens where having a good day |
|
 | Bugs: |
No bug |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Absolute carnage awaited me right from the first step on the trail. Through the first two miles of trail, it is post holed for virtually the entire length and multiple sets wide. Ranging from 3"-6" for every step and 12-24" intermixed in often. It is in the worst shape for a trail I have seen in a long time. I was really happy I chose a very early start as I was able to ride great frozen solid snow the entire way, by just offsetting my gait. Though I constantly had to watch my footing and it got quite tedious. From the shelter to the summit, it is less chopped up as its clearly been below freezing here, the trees are absolutely caked in ice and likely has lead to all the snapped limbs and down trees along the trail. Upon reaching the summit, I was again treated to an extremely beautiful undercast, one of the best I have seen. I could clearly make out Franconia Ridge, Moosilauke and Carrigain, as well as Marcy, Algoquin, Iriquous, Whiteface (and more I couldn't recognize, I have only done those once each haha). With no wind I stayed up here for almost an hour. My original plan was to go out to Ellen and venture back, but I had gone about 100 yards along the Long Trail and realized today was not the day. It's an absolute post hole wasteland, coupled with even more blowdowns and trees completely laden with ice dropping onto the trail, with virtually no give. I was not up for miles of hand to hand combat nor did I pack my suit of armor or weapons, I knew I shouldn't have left those in the car. Again, with the benefit of an early start, more than half my descent was on good frozen snow. I was able to do minimal if any further damage on the way out. WEAR SNOWSHOES!!! |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-28 |
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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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