| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Shelburne Moriah Mountain, Howe Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
FR 95, Shelburne Trail, Kenduskeag Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 27, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the other end of the unplowed loop (Connor Road?), just east of FR 95 off US 2. Plowed out area, room enough for maybe half a dozen cars. Also quite icy. Also a very monotonous mile or so walk to get to the summer trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One tricky one on Shelburne Trail due to steep snow embankments and blowdowns. Others were hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of bend overs and blowdowns on the trailed portions of the hike, most of which could be cleaned up with handsaws. There wasn't enough time in the day to consider helping out with our saws, but we did remove some deadfall. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Roadwalk portions were extremely tedious, due to a breakable crust on top of spring snow that had lost some density. Essentially random trailbreaking both ways. Pretty close to 6.5 miles of roadwalking roundtrip, including the 2.1 each way signed as the Shelburne Trail. Snowpack was probably 6-10". Snowshoes needed.
Once on the trailed portion of the Shelburne, conditions improved, as the snowpack had set up a bit more. Nonetheless, there were a few minor mud areas to skirt around. Once again, snowshoes a must. Snowpack generally one to two feet.
Surface conditions on Kenduskeag Trail were ideal, as the snow had set up well and thus we barely sank in. Virtually all of the ledges were well covered with snow base. Navigation was difficult in places, though, as the corridor was filled with blowdowns, bend overs, and low branches. Blazing is also almost non existent (occasional faded blue blazes). A few ledgy areas are pretty open with minimal clues as to where to get back in the scrub. With sunny skies, mild temperatures, and no wind, it wasn't an issue taking time to look around the ledges. Nice views from Shelburne Moriah, but perhaps better views from the various ledges east of it (including the neat little dome ledge just south of the trail, maybe a mile east of the summit). Snowpack was generally around 2 feet, deeper in other places. Some scrubby areas had filled in nicely, making for good view exploration.
Back in the col, we bushwhacked to Howe Peak. Generally better woods if sticking to the southern end of the ridge with some scrubby stuff further north. Occasionally meandered into the abandoned trail corridor. Lots of nice views from the ledges on top.
Unfortunate to discover more bathroom notes written in the canister by the usual perps. Trash has been removed and the targets notified.
Long day, decent miles and vertical. Factoring in distance, cumulative vertical, and trail finding, it was more challenging than most of the standard winter NH 4K ascents. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-12-27 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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