C
CPR
Guest
Date of Hike: 10Oct09
Length of Hike: 8 hours
Trail Conditions:
Rocky Branch Trail: Trail is in great shape from Jericho Rd to the first shelter. Counted 17 cars at the trailhead today when we left - very busy! All of the river crossings between the first and second shelters required a couple hundred feet of bushwhacking to find a place to cross and keep dry. I could have bushwacked all along the west side of the river and skipped them all but the spruce were full of water and soaking me. There are at least 2 or 3 places where the trail is overgrown, making it tough to follow. A few significant blowdowns present as well. Rocky Branch Shelter #2 is in rough shape - floor boards are starting to rot and some gaping holes in the roof...its days must be numbered.
Isolation Trail: Very muddy just about the entire way. It felt as if I were hiking up a stream as opposed to trail for some of it. River crossings all manageable.
Davis Path: Muddy in most spots but most of the worst spots have rocks and bog bridges to run along.
Mt. Isolation Spur Trail: Slippery rocks but that's due to the weather that day (cold, misting and windy). Good shape otherwise. No views.
Stairs Mt Spur Trail: Great shape, one of the only places without significant mud!
Stairs Col Trail: Great shape. Has some mud but not that bad. Slippery rocks again due to the weather that day.
Comments: Weather forecast was a bit off so I missed the views from Isolation by 2 hours or so. Lots of birch trees are bare but the Maples are showing off nicely.
Special Equipment: Highly recommend poles and gaiters. Almost time for winter hiking gear...
CJ
Length of Hike: 8 hours
Trail Conditions:
Rocky Branch Trail: Trail is in great shape from Jericho Rd to the first shelter. Counted 17 cars at the trailhead today when we left - very busy! All of the river crossings between the first and second shelters required a couple hundred feet of bushwhacking to find a place to cross and keep dry. I could have bushwacked all along the west side of the river and skipped them all but the spruce were full of water and soaking me. There are at least 2 or 3 places where the trail is overgrown, making it tough to follow. A few significant blowdowns present as well. Rocky Branch Shelter #2 is in rough shape - floor boards are starting to rot and some gaping holes in the roof...its days must be numbered.
Isolation Trail: Very muddy just about the entire way. It felt as if I were hiking up a stream as opposed to trail for some of it. River crossings all manageable.
Davis Path: Muddy in most spots but most of the worst spots have rocks and bog bridges to run along.
Mt. Isolation Spur Trail: Slippery rocks but that's due to the weather that day (cold, misting and windy). Good shape otherwise. No views.
Stairs Mt Spur Trail: Great shape, one of the only places without significant mud!
Stairs Col Trail: Great shape. Has some mud but not that bad. Slippery rocks again due to the weather that day.
Comments: Weather forecast was a bit off so I missed the views from Isolation by 2 hours or so. Lots of birch trees are bare but the Maples are showing off nicely.
Special Equipment: Highly recommend poles and gaiters. Almost time for winter hiking gear...
CJ
