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Bigelows on 2/13/2016--Avery Peak, West Peak, South Horn
Random Group of hikers, Party of 7. Counter clockwise lollipop loop via Firewarden's Trail, Bigelow Range Trail, Horns Pond Trail, with a snowed-in roadwalk.
Stratton Brook Pond Road was plowed only just beyond last house, room for a few cars along edges. From there to the hiker bridge at Stratton Brook Pond it was packed flat by snowmachines. We broke trail through fresh snow of a few inches at trailhead to over 1 foot along the ridge. Evidence of previous ascents was mostly buried beyond Horns & Firewarden's junction. About 8-10" snowbase at trailhead, increasingly deep on the ascent to about 1.5' on ridge with blowouts, deeper drifts, and breakable crust covered with powder. Exposed peaks were bony with lots of rock but not much ice. A few icy pitches on the Firewarden's Trail and along the ridge but nothing terrible, most of the ice was covered with snow and sticking well. We used spikes to the Horns-Firewarden's junction, then snowshoes the rest of the way. We carried crampons but did not need them. Subzero temps & moderate wind all day. Surprised to see most of the stream crossings not frozen over, tho' they were easy to cross. We did not take to the side trail to N. Horn. No one else on the trails.
Photos: http://www.meetup.com/random-hikers/events/228048297/
Shoeless Paul, [email protected]
Random Group of hikers, Party of 7. Counter clockwise lollipop loop via Firewarden's Trail, Bigelow Range Trail, Horns Pond Trail, with a snowed-in roadwalk.
Stratton Brook Pond Road was plowed only just beyond last house, room for a few cars along edges. From there to the hiker bridge at Stratton Brook Pond it was packed flat by snowmachines. We broke trail through fresh snow of a few inches at trailhead to over 1 foot along the ridge. Evidence of previous ascents was mostly buried beyond Horns & Firewarden's junction. About 8-10" snowbase at trailhead, increasingly deep on the ascent to about 1.5' on ridge with blowouts, deeper drifts, and breakable crust covered with powder. Exposed peaks were bony with lots of rock but not much ice. A few icy pitches on the Firewarden's Trail and along the ridge but nothing terrible, most of the ice was covered with snow and sticking well. We used spikes to the Horns-Firewarden's junction, then snowshoes the rest of the way. We carried crampons but did not need them. Subzero temps & moderate wind all day. Surprised to see most of the stream crossings not frozen over, tho' they were easy to cross. We did not take to the side trail to N. Horn. No one else on the trails.
Photos: http://www.meetup.com/random-hikers/events/228048297/
Shoeless Paul, [email protected]
