| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Castle Trail, Gulfside, Valley Way |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 25, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The pulloff (west of the real parking access/lot which wasn't plowed) was plowed and had room for half dozen cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One water crossing at the first half mile of the Castle Tr was partly ice bridged, with ice covered rocks. Doable in spikes with care. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some blowdowns on Castle Tr that required short walkarounds, all pretty straightforward. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We did a CCW semiloop starting at Bowman Trailhead (Castle Trail), up to Mt Jefferson summit, then north on Gulfside to Mt Adams summit, then descended Valley Way. (We bailed on Madison - too windy, too foggy, too late in the day.) Conditions and traction were all over the place today - spikes from Bowman TH until we crossed Israel River, then snowshoes up until the Castles. We broke trail the whole way, though in certain spots moose and/or rabbits had done some of this for us. The Castle Trail is a steep one and getting up/over the Castles presented some puzzles, often we didn't know whether to lead with our feet, arms or butt, but we did it. Once at the Castles and above treeline we alternated bareboot and spikes since it was a mix of windswept rocks and ice. Eventually we just kept the spikes on. Gulfside down to Edmands Col over the snowfields was interesting, breakable crust/sidehilling. Summits had 45mph winds and starting mid afternoon the wave of undercast swept over us creating a wet fog with low visibility. We tagged Adams and then descended cairn-to-cairn, to the hut and then via Valley Way to Appalachia TH. Valley Way was packed and we just spiked it. |
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 | Name: |
Eric H |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-01-26 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.instagram.com/p/B7yS7BunY75/ |
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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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