North Straightback Mountain, Mt. Major via Brook Trail, Straightback-Major Link, Quarry Spur Trail, Quarry Trail, Mt. Major Trail
Date of Hike: Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Trail Conditions: Frozen granular, spring snow
Special Equipment Required: Snowshoes, traction needed.
Comments:
Mt. Major Trail to Brook Trail - barebootable if you stay in the center, posthole city if you so much as step to one side. Traction helpful, as there is an thin layer of ice on everything that didn't get direct sunlight.
Brook Trail - snowshoes needed as packed snow sustained damage from rain/fog. Brook crossings a bit tricky, especially the second from the last, which I had to walk downstream to a downed tree to get across w/o getting wet.
Major/Straightback Link to Quarry Spur - two wet spots at beginning, easily avoided. Snowshoes needed.
Quarry Spur Trail - Snowshoes needed, brook crossing has snowbridge, however just after this, the trail is a completely mess due to an active logging operation. Trail can still be followed thanks to ribbons in the few trees still standing, but it's a mess with branches and tree tops all over the place (no way but through them).
Quarry Trail to North Straightback - snowshoes needed for this short stretch, active logging operation also in progress on top of North Straightback, though not as much of a mess as the Quarry Spur Trail.
Major/Straightback Link from Brook Trail to Mt. Major - snowshoes needed all the way to summit ledges.
Mt. Major Trail back to parking lot - traction needed due to icy glace. MSRs were adequate.
Other than the mess on the Quarry Spur, no significant blowdowns to report. Still multiple feet of snow.
Your name: rocket21
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
Date of Hike: Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Trail Conditions: Frozen granular, spring snow
Special Equipment Required: Snowshoes, traction needed.
Comments:
Mt. Major Trail to Brook Trail - barebootable if you stay in the center, posthole city if you so much as step to one side. Traction helpful, as there is an thin layer of ice on everything that didn't get direct sunlight.
Brook Trail - snowshoes needed as packed snow sustained damage from rain/fog. Brook crossings a bit tricky, especially the second from the last, which I had to walk downstream to a downed tree to get across w/o getting wet.
Major/Straightback Link to Quarry Spur - two wet spots at beginning, easily avoided. Snowshoes needed.
Quarry Spur Trail - Snowshoes needed, brook crossing has snowbridge, however just after this, the trail is a completely mess due to an active logging operation. Trail can still be followed thanks to ribbons in the few trees still standing, but it's a mess with branches and tree tops all over the place (no way but through them).
Quarry Trail to North Straightback - snowshoes needed for this short stretch, active logging operation also in progress on top of North Straightback, though not as much of a mess as the Quarry Spur Trail.
Major/Straightback Link from Brook Trail to Mt. Major - snowshoes needed all the way to summit ledges.
Mt. Major Trail back to parking lot - traction needed due to icy glace. MSRs were adequate.
Other than the mess on the Quarry Spur, no significant blowdowns to report. Still multiple feet of snow.
Your name: rocket21
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
