MonadnockVol
New member
Date of hike: Saturday, 2/23/08
Mountain: Mt. Monadnock
Trails hiked: White Dot, Pumpelly, Red Spot, Cascade Link
Other trails observed from junctions: Spruce Link, White Cross, Old Ski Path, Harling, Birchtoff, Smith Connector
Trail conditions: 3-4" of new snow fell Friday night on top of the hard packed snow, ice and bare rock that was already there (see my report for 2/21). In the morning the new snow had not yet bonded to the stuff underneath, however, by mid-afternoon it was starting to. All the trails listed above - except for the Birchtoff - were broken by the afternoon.
Equipment: Gaitors were needed. Traction devices were essential. In the morning microspikes were not holding that well because the new snow was not bonded onto the old and the cleats on the microspikes were not long enough to bite into the older, harder stuff. I started in microspikes and switched to crampons halfway up. In the afternoon microspikes were starting to hold. No snowshoes are needed for the White Dot. I was the first person down the Pumpelly and Red Spot trails and there were drifts a couple of feet deep in spots but snowshoes were optional.
- Monadnock Volunteer (aka Steve)
Mountain: Mt. Monadnock
Trails hiked: White Dot, Pumpelly, Red Spot, Cascade Link
Other trails observed from junctions: Spruce Link, White Cross, Old Ski Path, Harling, Birchtoff, Smith Connector
Trail conditions: 3-4" of new snow fell Friday night on top of the hard packed snow, ice and bare rock that was already there (see my report for 2/21). In the morning the new snow had not yet bonded to the stuff underneath, however, by mid-afternoon it was starting to. All the trails listed above - except for the Birchtoff - were broken by the afternoon.
Equipment: Gaitors were needed. Traction devices were essential. In the morning microspikes were not holding that well because the new snow was not bonded onto the old and the cleats on the microspikes were not long enough to bite into the older, harder stuff. I started in microspikes and switched to crampons halfway up. In the afternoon microspikes were starting to hold. No snowshoes are needed for the White Dot. I was the first person down the Pumpelly and Red Spot trails and there were drifts a couple of feet deep in spots but snowshoes were optional.
- Monadnock Volunteer (aka Steve)
