Howker Ridge Trail this Winter

[pedxing]

Has anyone been up Howker Ridge Trail this winter? How recently might it be broken out?

I've really enjoyed Howker Ridge in July and - and have been wanting to try it as a winter route. I noticed in searching VFTT that there is almost no reported winter traffic on the trail. I think I saw one report over the 5 years. I'm wondering if I should be prepared for some major trail breaking.

 

[NewHampshire]

I'm wondering if I should be prepared for some major trail breaking.

Yeah, pretty much count on it. I have heard occasionally of it being broken out (not necessarily all the way) but that is always the rare exception.

Brian

 

[peakbagger]

I expect its gets as much use or maybe a bit more than Pine Link!

Seriously, I expect the upper parts of the trail truly disappear in the winter. The potential for spruce traps is probably very high in the high altitude spruce fir bands that the trail traverses. This area is good cover in the summer but walking on top of it would have some high wind exposure from the west.

 

[NewHampshire]

I expect its gets as much use or maybe a bit more than Pine Link!

Seriously, I expect the upper parts of the trail truly disappear in the winter. The potential for spruce traps is probably very high in the high altitude spruce fir bands that the trail traverses. This area is good cover in the summer but walking on top of it would have some high wind exposure from the west.

Your mention of spruce also reminded me.....

It has been a few years since I was on Howker Ridge trail, but when I was the trail had grown in so bad with spruce around the 3000 foot plateau that I was having trouble finding the trail. And this was summer. It was almost more bushwhack than trail. Now, I would hope it has been brushed since that time, but being a USFS trail that could be a spotty proposition. So be forewarned that that particular stretch could eat up a lot of time trying to route find.

Brian

 

[pedxing]

Thanks for those inputs. The trail was pretty well groomed when I hiked it this past July. There was actually a crew at work at the time. I think we only had to stop and think things through once, when an off-shoot to a stream crossing seemed wider than the actual trail.