Still Plenty of Snow up in Northern NH

[peakbagger]

Just a heads up that there is still plenty of snow up in the Northern Presidentials. The rain event that occured elsewhere, was a wet snow event above 1000 feet of elevation. I got about 6 inches that compacted down to about 3 inches late Sunday into Monday. Granted, the forecast is for a couple days of warm weather and cold nights so what snow there is will probably be boilerplate by the weekend, but keep in mind that winter gear is still something thats going to be required for the next month or so. There is one to two feet of snow in my yard (1400 feet) dependent on how much shade there is.

This is probably "preaching to the choir" but this is the time of year when folks look out at the lack of snow in their area and extrapolate that this condition will apply up in the whites and therefore there is no need for snow
shoes or traction aids.

For those tempted to visit Tuckermans, realize that the parking alterations at Pinkham have cut down on available parking somewhat and that none of the overflow lots are open yet so parking at Wildcats C lot is a definite possibility.

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

Thanks for the information!

I am not worried about the snow, but rather about the stream crossings. Warm temperatures have melted many snow bridges, and the flow is likely to be rather high.

Any idea what the state of the crossings on the Stony Brook trail? We are thinking of attempting Moriah tomorrow.

 

[bobandgeri]

Mohamed - they were very frozen last Thursday - 1 foot of ice.

This morning I was on Moosilauke and the snow was hrad packed and some ice but getting soft enough to not need traction.

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

Bob,

We had planned the trip largely based on your trip report, but I have a feeling that "that was then and this is now"

Almost a week of warm weather ... though, thanks to peakbagger, we know that there was snow, not rain.

it's this time of the year, albeit a bit early this year.

 

[w7xman]

Great info...and a great reminder...
April was just about the worst time for unprepared hikers when I was working at MWO...nice weather down low/south drew people up on the 'lets climb a mountain' whim only to become overwhelmed by the conditions. Be careful...and enjoy it!

 

[Michelle]

Yes! Lots of snow in them there hills!!

Mohamed - Good luck if you head to Moriah tomorrow, I look forward to any info you'll be able to pass along.
A couple of us are hoping to hike Moriah via Stony Brook on Friday as a "last winter hike of the season" hike.......and we also were concerned about the snow bridges ...........but after reading about MEB's Moriah adventure today, I guess the last thing we need to worry about is the river crossing!!!

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

Michelle,

We are probably not attempting Moriah tomorrow, as the C-M approach seems just as bad: Mt Moriah (attempt) Carter-Moriah trail.

The one member of our group of three who is still collecting peaks needs the Kinsmans, which seem in good shape from both sides. I have never done them in winter from the west, so will suggest that.

 

[Mattl]

Yes, the last storm was all snow in most of the Whites above 2500 feet. Mount Washington got 18 inches, while Carter Notch reported 17. I think areas like Adams and Madison may have gotten 2 feet or more though. The valleys around the Whites with the exception of the Gorham, Randolph area are melting fast, leaving a snow base that goes from nothing in places like Littleton to Bethlehem, Lincoln to, 60-110 inches from the Garfield to Moriah. Unfortunately the western Whites really missed out for the most part of the last 3 big storms, so at Lonesome Hut it goes from 27 inches to 78 at Hermit and Carter. Gray Knob is reporting over 105 inches on the ground, (waiting for them to update since the last storm). I think there will be some interesting stories coming from places like Isolation and the Twinway this spring.

ps: pasting the link below so you can see for yourself. The only thing is that they are a bit under what is on the ground there. But you get the idea.

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/html/map.html?mode=pan&zoom=&center_x=++-72.30&center_y=+++44.85&ql=station&var=ssm_depth&dy=2010&dm=3&dd=16&dh=12&snap=1&o9=1&o12=1&o13=1&lbl=m&min_x=-75.383333333335&min_y=41.250000000001&max_x=-69.116666666669&max_y=45.95&coord_x=++-72.30&coord_y=+++44.85&zbox_n=44.85855555555579&zbox_s=43.156111111111706&zbox_e=-70.89744444444659&zbox_w=-72.30744444444645&metric=0&bgvar=dem&width=600&height=450&nw=600&nh=450&h_o=0&font=0&js=1&uc=0

-Mattl

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Yes, the last storm was all snow in most of the Whites above 2500 feet. Mount Washington got 18 inches, while Carter Notch reported 17. I think areas like Adams and Madison may have gotten 2 feet or more though. The valleys around the Whites with the exception of the Gorham, Randolph area are melting fast, leaving a snow base that goes from nothing in places like Littleton to Bethlehem, Lincoln to, 60-110 inches from the Garfield to Moriah. Unfortunately the western Whites really missed out for the most part of the last 3 big storms, so at Lonesome Hut it goes from 27 inches to 78 at Hermit and Carter. Gray Knob is reporting over 105 inches on the ground, (waiting for them to update since the last storm). I think there will be some interesting stories coming from places like Isolation and the Twinway this spring.

ps: pasting the link below so you can see for yourself. The only thing is that they are a bit under what is on the ground there. But you get the idea.

-Mattl

Very similar to west side of Colorado Front Range where I spent last week. No new snow at the base of Winter Park, but lots of new snow about every day/night higher up, with numerous human-triggered avy's near/on Berthoud Pass weekend before last.

I might note that a few degrees colder on many occasions could have given us huge snow dumps at lower elevations in the Whites, but thanks to dare I say XXXX, not much shoveling required at 600 ft a.s.l. in Thornton this winter.

 

[blacknblue]

Unfortunately the western Whites really missed out for the most part of the last 3 big storms, so at Lonesome Hut it goes from 27 inches to 78 at Hermit and Carter.-Mattl

The snow depth on Moosilauke is quite impressive, I would estimate 6-7 feet deep along the Carriage Road ridgeline between the main and south summits. Along the Glenclif Trail, there was a dramatic increase in snow around the 2000-2500 elevation line, going from a few inches to several feet in about 10-15 minutes of hiking.

There will be monorails of snow into May, I'll bet. It's hard to remember so much discrepancy between valleys and mountains as this year.

 

[hikes-with-him]

The snow depth on Moosilauke is quite impressive, I would estimate 6-7 feet deep along the Carriage Road ridgeline between the main and south summits. Along the Glenclif Trail, there was a dramatic increase in snow around the 2000-2500 elevation line, going from a few inches to several feet in about 10-15 minutes of hiking.

There will be monorails of snow into May, I'll bet. It's hard to remember so much discrepancy between valleys and mountains as this year.

I think we are FINALLY going to get Moosilauke on Saturday (looks GEORGEOUS!!)

Anyway, so it is hard pack...sounds like we should at least TAKE our snowshoes and crampons...best to be prepared.

Is it easy to find the Glencliff trailhead? We aren't coming in until around 8:00 pm on Friday and want to find the trailhead then...NOT try and fumble to find it at 5:30 am on Sat.

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

Is it easy to find the Glencliff trailhead? We aren't coming in until around 8:00 pm on Friday and want to find the trailhead then...NOT try and fumble to find it at 5:30 am on Sat.

Rt 25 to High Street to trailhead: Glencliff trailhead. Enter your starting address in A and click on Get Directions.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

High Street was also known as Sanatorium Road, named for the Glencliff Sanatorium, now the The Glencliff Home for the Elderly.

(The sanatorium opened in the summer of 1909 for New Hampshire residents infected with tuberculosis.)

When on Route 25, you'll see a sign posted before High Street indicating that the Home for the Elderly is up that road.

The trailhead is on the right-hand side of the road, just before High Street crests at the Home for the Elderly.

Steve Martin has made a reservation for me at this place, so that I can continue to do maintenance work on the Glencliff Trail in my dementia. They even blow a loud whistle at 4 pm, so I will know when it is time to head down the hill for supper.

 

[Lefty E]

Snow conditions

Peakbagger is correct up here in the north country..pretty deep snow pack and still frozen crossings from what I did see yesterday on 19 Mile and Carter Dome trails and today on Webster-Jackson..how long will it last?? hopefully at least to 132 PM on March 20.....

 

[TwinMom+1]

Latest snow conditions on 19 Mi Brook Trail?

Anyone been on the 19 Mile Brook trail in the past week - assume the snows are still holding up? Hoping to sneak in one last snowshoe before it melts. May have to play hookie from church on Palm Sunday to do it (not that the kids will complain).

thanks for any and all condition reports in the area of the Carters/Hight area.

 

[MichaelJ]

They're still measuring 65" of snow on the ground at Carter Notch Hut. The current report is "Trails packed, frozen, icy crust w/drifts. Rec lt trax for all trails and flotation above."

http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/tripplanner/go/index.cfm

 

[sardog1]

It ain't going anywhere this weekend. From the NWS forecast this morning for Pinkham Notch:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 27. Northwest wind between 15 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 4. Wind chill values as low as -9. North wind between 8 and 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Wind chill values as low as -8. North wind between 5 and 8 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Wind chill values as low as zero. South wind between 3 and 7 mph.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. South wind between 9 and 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

 

[peakbagger]

To revive this thread, as of Wednesday AM (3/31), I still have about 1 foot of solid snow in my front yard which has full southerly exposure (its where my solar panels are located so it had better be sunny). This is at 1400 feet of elevation at the Gorham/Rnadolph town line. Given the warm forecast, I expect this will be substantially reduced by the weekend, but the water contained in the snow has to go somewhere!

 

[Andrew]

To revive this thread, as of Wednesday AM (3/31), I still have about 1 foot of solid snow in my front yard which has full southerly exposure (its where my solar panels are located so it had better be sunny). This is at 1400 feet of elevation at the Gorham/Rnadolph town line. Given the warm forecast, I expect this will be substantially reduced by the weekend, but the water contained in the snow has to go somewhere!

Was thinking the same thing yesterday while watching Moose Brook raging by behind my office and thinking about the crowds that this weekends temps might inspire.

Maybe the flooding will be keeping many busy drying out.