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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Cotton Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Cotton Mountain Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, February 17, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: One car when I started, same car when I left. Room for at least three or four strategic parkers, room alongside road and on right side heading out for parallel parkers. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Looks to be getting a smidge brushy before entering the old gravel pit, curious how it is in warmer seasons. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Plenty of dog shit, but no dogs. Pick up your dogs shit! Spent a few minutes cleaning some off one of my snowshoes upon returning to the car. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Quick lunchtime hike out and back before an afternoon vet appointment. Trail was in decent shape, but had been churned up pretty good by microspiking in spots, especially at the steepest portion prior to the summit. Well marked, and easy to follow. Some rocks and big pieces of wood poking through near the summit, just needs care otherwise not a big deal. Powder snow was definitely getting more soft (making snowshoes a safe choice), and from a skier's perspective it was making the inevitable change to granular. Didn't see anyone else, although there was another car in the lot. Assuming they made the trip over to Livermore.

I do not have a trail god complex or anything, but I am definitely pro-snowshoe simply for the fact that we can't have an enjoyable micropiking experience during deep freezes if there isn't a firm and consistent monorail track to use. I have seen some seriously ravaged trails within the past week (4K and smaller), and today was motivated to smooth out as many of the deep post holes on this trail as possible. However I am no stranger to the heart break of seeing it go to waste because one doesn't use/own or believe in the usefulness of snowshoes. Microspiking in fresh snow, or soft conditions, to me is way more work than wearing the extra couple pounds on foot (not to mention the amazing help of...televators!). I digress...because the argument will rage on in social media groups, and always fall on deaf ears for those who don't want to hear it.

PS...I loved seeing the ski tracks in the gravel pit, and am very intrigued. If anyone has done this here, please feel free to shoot an email with any advice, opinions etc. Looked like XC or old toothpick skis.  
Name
Name: bria 
E-Mail
E-Mail: breahmaria@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-02-17 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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