Start of Three Season Hiking.

[Puck]

I know that there are many factors to the answer and the factors can change with the weather....so does anyone think that there could be smaller peaks...Hale, Tecumseh devoid of snow cover and/or ice by the second or third week in April this year? When would Carrigan open up? Hale and Carrigan begs the question, when would the roads open?

 

[forestgnome]

The roads open when the USFS decides it's time, not by the calendar. Mohamed's Site keeps track of openings, or you could call the USFS.

Search for a recent thread about about spring hiking, lots of info there. Many peaks and ridges will be snowless by then, but I doubt the sheltered trails would be. I would consider south-facing slopes more than lower elevation.

 

[VFTTop'r]

There is a web site listing when roads open. Anyone out there know the web address?

 

[carole]

One important thing to think about is water crossings. Little streams sometimes become quite difficult to cross. Extra socks this time of year are a good idea. I am also seeing (in NH Lakes region) running water under the snow, and the snow breaks away leaving your foot in a stream. Keep an eye on trail condition reports for ideas of what looks good.

 

[Puck]

One important thing to think about is water crossings. Little streams sometimes become quite difficult to cross. Extra socks this time of year are a good idea. I am also seeing (in NH Lakes region) running water under the snow, and the snow breaks away leaving your foot in a stream. Keep an eye on trail condition reports for ideas of what looks good.

Thanks Carole, The only time I hiked Carrigan was in Sep so the crossings were a nice rockhop. I can only imagine April.
BTW I brough my son up Pierce in the first week of March going up Crawford. We broke trail. I never thought I would ever be the first up Crawford after a snow storm. I kept thinking about our group hike at the gathering...thanks again.

 

[sapblatt]

Pretty sure most of the roads do not usually open before May.
I am pretty sure David Metskey recently posted the link to the Forest Service Road Closings page but I have not been able to locate it...

 

[David Metsky]

http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/closures.html
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white/roads_status.html

Roads usually open in or around early May.

-dave-

 

[MEB]

On my previous hikes that time of year I have found there is little or no snow to begin with but once you start gaining elevation then it can be another story. Last year I hiked Height/Carter Dome the first week of May and there was no snow at all until we started going up Height. On the steep part just before the summit there was also quite a bit of ice too. With all the snow we got this year who knows when it will be all gone.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

....except the Bear Notch Road, which does not usually open until the beginning of June; grrrrrrrr!!