Ammonoosuc, Crawford and Jewell Trail Conditions?

[naturegirl]

Does anyone know the current conditions of the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford between the hut and Washington and the Jewell Trail?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Juniper]

Hiked that route last Sat and all was good - not sure what has changed since then. Our group wore snowshoes to the hut then I wore microspikes to and from Monroe and switched to crampons for the trip up Washington and over to Jewell (but I wish I had worn snowshoes on the way up). Crampons were helpful for some icy sections of the trip along Gulfside over to the Jewell trail. We lost the trail for a bit coming down Jewell, so had to plow through some deeper snow, but on the trail microspikes were helpful and crampons would be a nuisance given all the exposed rock. The Jewell trail after you enter the scrub is nice and run-able.

 

[bobandgeri]

I was up on Madison and Adams today. With the high winds there has been a lot of drifting in some areas, while others have been blown clean leaving blue ice. As Juniper pointed out, the Jewel trail can be difficult to find/follow above treeline with lots of spruce traps. With all the wind and drifting lately you might want to consider ascending that way and descending via the Ammo trail.