N
NH Tramper
Guest
Date of Hike: March 24, 2012 (first ascent on these peaks for me)
Trail Conditions: Mixed bag from packed ice (from earlier use of snowshoes I think), loose slush, wet and dry rock, wet and dry ground, mud. and flowing water in places. High brook water made most of the crossings difficult or impossible (see comments).
Special Equipment Required: None, though waders would've been nice. Brought crampons but barebooted the entire trail. Poles were helpful. Considered putting on the crampons for the upper descent (for more confidence) but I determined I didn't really need them.
Comments: I skipped the first two crossings as per the WMG, choosing to bushwhack. The third crossing was no better and ended up bushwhacking the west bank for a good two-three miles (some denser forest sections and loose slushy snow made this a tiring endeavor). Lots of moose sign. I did cross at the 5th spot but it was scary; a double trunk about seven feet above raging water. The 6th was also worrisome, but for getting wet across a wide gap, not the danger. The 7th and last crossing was easy. This does not include tributaries of which some were also challenging. The upper section was steep and rough but the trail was narrow and between the roots and rocks it wasn't bad at all. On the way back I skipped the all the upper crossings so I could stay on the east bank for the long haul section. I ended up crossing between the first crossing near the trailhead and the falls, that was tough but I didn't want to bushwhack to the highway and I was no longer worried about getting soaked. As it was I laid over a big stretch and crabbed sideways rock to rock to cross. It was awkward but it worked; the only thing that got wet were my hip belt straps.
Recommendation: In hindsight, I feel it'd be better to wait until June or so to tackle this trail. While I did make it, all the bushwhacking sapped a bit of the fun from the day. Not all, though: I still had an awesome hike. It was a great day.
An Aside: Maybe it's just just me: The middle peak seemed higher, further (from the SBT junction), and steeper to climb than the supposedly higher and further north peak. It's almost like the map is bassackwards.
Mike "Tramper" Cherim
Nottingham NH
Trail Conditions: Mixed bag from packed ice (from earlier use of snowshoes I think), loose slush, wet and dry rock, wet and dry ground, mud. and flowing water in places. High brook water made most of the crossings difficult or impossible (see comments).
Special Equipment Required: None, though waders would've been nice. Brought crampons but barebooted the entire trail. Poles were helpful. Considered putting on the crampons for the upper descent (for more confidence) but I determined I didn't really need them.
Comments: I skipped the first two crossings as per the WMG, choosing to bushwhack. The third crossing was no better and ended up bushwhacking the west bank for a good two-three miles (some denser forest sections and loose slushy snow made this a tiring endeavor). Lots of moose sign. I did cross at the 5th spot but it was scary; a double trunk about seven feet above raging water. The 6th was also worrisome, but for getting wet across a wide gap, not the danger. The 7th and last crossing was easy. This does not include tributaries of which some were also challenging. The upper section was steep and rough but the trail was narrow and between the roots and rocks it wasn't bad at all. On the way back I skipped the all the upper crossings so I could stay on the east bank for the long haul section. I ended up crossing between the first crossing near the trailhead and the falls, that was tough but I didn't want to bushwhack to the highway and I was no longer worried about getting soaked. As it was I laid over a big stretch and crabbed sideways rock to rock to cross. It was awkward but it worked; the only thing that got wet were my hip belt straps.
Recommendation: In hindsight, I feel it'd be better to wait until June or so to tackle this trail. While I did make it, all the bushwhacking sapped a bit of the fun from the day. Not all, though: I still had an awesome hike. It was a great day.
An Aside: Maybe it's just just me: The middle peak seemed higher, further (from the SBT junction), and steeper to climb than the supposedly higher and further north peak. It's almost like the map is bassackwards.
Mike "Tramper" Cherim
Nottingham NH
