| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Madonna Peak, VT |
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 | Trails: |
Ski trails, Long Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 7, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Dropped off at Smugglers Notch ski area & picked up at Barnes Camp on Rt. 108/Mountain Road by Fancypants. The latter parking area was overflowing when we finished in early afternoon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Usual route-finding challenges of Long Trail in winter, with many low & bent over tree branches, minimal white blazing, and very light winter usage. GPS highly recommended! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Chilcoot Pass to Rt. 108 southbound on the Long Trail via Smugglers Notch ski area
Started off at Madonna II lift, Smugglers Notch Resort, which has a very gracious uphill policy (6-8 am on specific trails & no charge - thank you!!). Lower Chilcoot, Waterfall, Upper Chilcoot Trails brought us to Chilcoot Pass in about a mile. Easy going with snowshoe televators.
The fun started here, with the LT hiding in the woods & paralleling ski trails much of the first couple miles. Was quite chilly & blustery atop Madonna Peak. Took a much appreciated break in the heated ski patrol hut on top before continuing on. Next section to Sterling Pond had more challenging trail finding & a steep, exaggerated side hill to contend with. (Had I not been intent on the LT proper, paralleling ski trails would have been tempting.)
View from Sterling Pond were fantastic, with the Mansfield Ridge sparkling in all her glory. From the Pond down to Rt. 108 is definitely not my favorite section: ongoing GPSing, crisscrossing skier tracks, much tedious side hilling, and lots of up on the way down. Lower down we finally encountered some welcomed snowshoe tracks (and FP!), welcomed because it meant we didn’t have to “think†anymore. Haha!
We did the Barnes Camp Loop to finish the section. Stopped by The Alchemist for some beverages, then Green Mountain Club’s Winter Trails Day, where all 3 of us walked away with raffle prizes (microspikes, lift tickets, & a T shirt)!! |
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 | Name: |
Snowflea & Slinky |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-03-08 |
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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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