| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid, North Tripyramid, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Livermore Trail, Mt. Tripyramid Trail, Pine Bend Brook Trail, Scaur Ridge Trail, bushwhack, logging road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 8, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Livermore lot off Tripoli Road plowed. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Ice bridges are forming, but they're nowhere strong enough to be used. Crossing at the start of the south branch was tricky, as were a few of the smaller crossings. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Cut out half a dozen blowdowns, but some remain. Corridor is hard to follow on most of the trails on the mountain due to brush, blowdowns, and a lack of blazes. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Per signage, snowshoes (or skis or fat bike) are required for Livermore; barebooting is specifically not allowed on the groomed trails.
Groomed trails were smooth sailing. Quiet this morning, but pretty busy in the afternoon (probably the best nordic skiing this far south right now; mid winter conditions).
After being spoiled on the groomed trails, the Livermore Trail thereafter (e.g. 0.8 mile prior to the first Tripyramid junction) was very rough, as someone had postholed prior to the deep freeze, and the snowshoe track wasn't well established. Slow, awkward going. Snowpack is 2-3 feet.
Mt. Tripyramid Trail up to the south slide was rough, as there was one duo of snowshoe tracks set up prior to the deep freeze and a boatload of moose postholes.
South slide was comparably easier, as there was lots of snow and plenty of room to get off the awkward track. Some of the snow was breaking off in slabs, so a steeper or more continuously slide could be dangerous right now. The gully immediately above the slide is filling in, so it was easier to get up. No tracks on the Kate Sleeper Trail. Snowpack was up to pole handles.
One duo of snowshoe tracks between South and Middle, meandering off the trail in places. Some foot deep drifts of powder.
Middle to North was awkward in places and sometimes off trail. Not a well established snowshoe trench, so a bit rough with the firm base. Unfortunately someone decided to boot between the peaks this afternoon, leaving a dozen or more postholes in just a few tenths of a mile.
North down to Scaur was also awkward due to a lack of an established snowshoe trench. The one hiker from the Kanc snowshoed up but booted down, leaving some postholes behind, which were annoying. The snowpack is deep, so the typically icy steeps are fully covered.
Scaur Ridge also had an awkward snowshoe track set up, unfortunately augmented by a postholer (some very deep) prior to the deep freeze. Shortly after the minor water crossing, we opted to take a break from that postholer's mess and instead bushwhacked down through the open woods onto the old logging road, popping out at the northern Mt. Tripyramid Trail junction with Livermore Trail (went around a few brushy areas; sunk in about half a foot on average, so pretty good going).
Livermore Trail between the Tripyramid junctions was pretty rough from the awkward snowshoe track and the postholer; not use in recent days.
Chilly start, somewhere around 0 degrees. Mostly sunny skies and fairly tame winds. South Slide was especially nice in the sun. Good views from all three peaks, thanks to the snowpack. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21, skidder |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-12-08 |
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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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