| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Sleeper, Mt. Whiteface, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail, Downes Brook Trail, Kate Sleeper Trail, East Sleeper Side Trail, Rollins Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 29, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Route 113A is full of frost heaves. Parking Lot was icy in AM and it was more slushy at end of day. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There were many blowdowns on the Kate Sleeper Trail |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one dog that seemed to be having an enjoyable hike. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
The road from parking lot to the start of the Blueberry Ledge Trail was icy but doable without traction. Suzanne and I started out barebooting but switched to snowshoes after the first half mile, since the trail was starting to soften. The monorail stable but there were post holes off to the side from others barebooting. We heard and saw some Boreal Chickadees above 3200 feet. Snowshoes worked fine on the ledge section near the top of the south summit and we met five people coming down while we were going up. The views were still good as the clouds had not come in quite yet. The Downes Brook Trail had not been broken out and Tim decided to join us for the hike over to East Sleeper. The trail was good until we got on the Kate Sleeper Trail where there were many blowdowns and it was rather slow going. Staying on the trail was tricky but there was a slight depression in the snow which indicated that someone had been over there some time ago. After crawling under, over and going around the blowdowns, the trail got better. We followed the side trail to summit of East Sleeper and found the sign at the top. We had to move fairly quickly coming out as it was getting late. Suzanne used microspikes going down the ledges while Tim and I stayed with snowshoes. Tim used a butt sled and got down quite a bit before we did. The road and the parking lot had gotten fairly slushy but did not really present any problems and getting back to Route 113A. It was a long day but it was satisfying. |
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 | Name: |
Gary |
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 | E-Mail: |
scandgc@fairpoint.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-03-30 |
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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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