A lollipop route via Roaring Brook trail to Giant's Nubble and Washbowl in early March, with deep snow at higher elevations requiring snowshoes. The report documents the locations and status of designated campsites in the Giant Mountain Wilderness area.
On March 5, conditions on the Santanoni Range ridge connecting Santanoni to Panther were extremely difficult with rotten snow, spruce traps up to chin height, and poor visibility of the path. The reporter attempted Santanoni, Panther, and Couchsachraga but turned back partway through due to time constraints and dangerous postholing conditions, ultimately bagging only Santanoni.
Solo winter ascent of Owls Head via Black Pond bushwhack and Brutus herd path on 2/24/25, with steep snow conditions and excellent traction from microspikes. Reporter encountered soft base snow in a well-packed trench, found the Brutus bushwhack extremely steep, and encountered no other hikers despite good weather bringing traffic.
Winter hike in Maine's Bigelow Range on Feb 3 with challenging deep snow conditions, especially on the steep Fire Wardens trail above Moose Falls. The reporter and partner snowshoed through untracked terrain and kicked steps on ice-crusted slopes, completing a 12-hour round trip that required vigorous effort and headlamps for the descent.
Trip reporter hiked Plateau via Notch Lake on 1/31 with snowshoes and found nice soft, firm snow conditions. On 2/1 they hiked Big Indian and Fir from Biscuit Brook, reporting good but somewhat limited snowpack that would deteriorate with rain or warm weather.
Hiked Indian Head with snowshoes from the trailhead. Significant ice lurking under the snow pack from extended winter conditions with sustained cold and no January thaw, ascended and descended via Jimmy Dolan Notch.
First-person account of a winter ascent of Mt. Mansfield in Vermont on January 25, 2025, via Sunset Ridge trail. The group experienced cold, windy summit conditions but enjoyed clear views and manageable wind near treeline, with some ski traffic on the mountain.
A hike on Dry Brook Ridge from Hill Road required snowshoes for portions of the route beyond the Pakatakan junction. Snow squalls limited visibility, but the hike featured historical sites including old homesteads, CCC ponds, and boggy terrain over approximately 8 miles.
Solo hike to Blackhead Mountain via Batavia Kill trail for sunrise, looping down through Lockwood Gap to Black Dome. Trail had scattered snow patches and icy sections on steeper pitches; microspikes worn throughout. Summit was in cloud at 0°F with wind.
New Year's Eve hike on Blackhead from Storks Nest Road with snow coverage approximately halfway up; microspikes required for the upper portion; trail to Dutcher Notch in poor condition.
Hiker ascended Ashokan High Peak on December 30, 2024, via Kanape Brook trail. Minimal snow patches on trail; snowshoes not needed at current conditions, with some snow visible on the north-facing side.
Hiker completed a Balsam Mountain–Rider Hollow counterclockwise loop in Sunday conditions with 2–3 inches of snow and microspikes, noting that recent rain and warming had melted heavier snowfall from the previous week. The Rider Hollow shelter was encountered in poor condition with roof damage.
First-person account of off-trail winter hike to Northeast Moose Peak on November 30, featuring fresh snow, blowdowns, bushwhacking through spruce, and navigation challenges with minimal visibility and white trail markers obscured by snow cover.
A group of five hikers spent two nights at Blueberry Lean-to and climbed Mount Seward on November 29th in difficult winter conditions with 2-3 feet of unconsolidated snow and muddy sections lower on the trail. The ascent via the north side took 5.5 hours for 3 miles with frequent lead switches due to the steep terrain and challenging snow, while the descent took 2.5 hours. They decided not to attempt the nearby peaks of Donaldson and Emmons due to the difficult conditions encountered.
A bushwhacking trip on November 18 to Table Top Mountain (4427') and its Middle peak (4306'), undertaken in fresh snow with excellent visibility. The hiker found deep drifts, thick vegetation, and cliff bands with icicles, but manageable terrain and safe workarounds throughout the off-trail ascent and descent.
Hiker completed an off-trail winter ascent of a 3,363-foot peak east of Loch Bonnie and Moose Mountain, navigating blowdown, coniferous snow, stream crossings, and partial water submersion. Conditions included blowing snow, fluff-covered obstacles, drifted snow, slush ice, and wintry weather with poor visibility.
A fast-paced loop hike over South Plattekill, North Plattekill, and Roundtop on November 9, 2024, with excellent views and mostly open terrain, completed in under 3 hours. The Plattekill Turnpike trail was in great shape, though the descent from Roundtop featured rocky, leaf-covered forest floor.
First-person account of a solo bushwhack ascent of Van Dorrien Mountain on October 29. The hiker encountered pleasant autumn conditions with clear skies, mid-50s temperatures, and dry terrain, noting hair ice on decomposing wood and excellent summit views of Ampersand Lake and the surrounding High Peaks.
Solo bushwhack completion of Sawtooth #2 South, the final 3000-foot peak in the Sawtooth Range for the reporter. Route involved approach from Seward Trailhead to No. 4 Lean-to, off-trail traverse through open hardwoods, navigation through blowdown and dense conifers, and technical rock scrambling up cliffs to reach the wooded summit.
Hiker completed Mount Mansfield via the Hellbrook Trail in heavy rain with slippery rock and fog at the summit, then pivoted to Killington the next day after weather improved, climbing via an unmaintained bushwhack to Bucklin Trail and experiencing steep final pitches to the summit lodge.
Two hikers completed "the six" Catskill peaks from Denning base camp on August 27, encountering well-established herd paths, occasional thick vegetation, and rock shelves while navigating between summits and returning via Fisherman's Path.
A five-day backpacking thru-hike from Sewards to Upper Works via Ouluska Pass involving a grueling 8.5-hour bushwhack through dense spruce-balsam thickets with extensive blowdown, followed by hiking the Northern Peaks Trail and horse trails via Duck Hole and Preston Ponds.
Warner Creek and Devils Path trails in excellent condition on July 31. Water sources varied: Warner Creek spring had good flow; Devils Path upper water crossing had limited flow requiring pumping, while lower flows were dry. Parking at Notch Inn Road and Route 214 was limited due to staged construction materials.
Hiker completed the Hunter Mountain loop via Spruceton Road and the horse trail with descent through Diamond Notch Falls on a clear summer day. Notes that popular viewpoints at Geiger Point and near the fire tower have become overgrown with vegetation compared to previous years.
Hiker climbed Donaldson and Emmons on a wet, cold, rainy day with muddy conditions on the Calkins herd path, then returned on 6/2 to summit Hurricane (with good views) and Jay Mountains (with excellent views and spectacular rocky terrain). Spring mud was notable; no significant bug activity.</summary>
<parameter name="tags">["wet", "mud", "cold", "rain", "rime-ice", "dry", "rocky", "scramble", "exposed"]
A three-day wilderness bushwhacking trip (May 1-3) in the Pharaoh Mountain area featuring ascents of Bear Mountain, Antwine, Pine Hill, Potter Mountain, and Treadway Mountain with open rock, good views, and mostly pleasant spring conditions.
A bike-and-hike adventure in the southwestern Catskills covering five peaks (four Catskill hundred highest) over 13 miles on foot and 3+ miles of bushwhacking. Conditions included muddy sections near Hodge Pond, open woods throughout, and some brushy areas; spring wildflowers were beginning to emerge.
Hikers completed a traverse from Knoblock to Tripod on April 9 in frozen spring conditions with 1–2 feet of snow in places. Wore spikes throughout and encountered thick blowdown and new growth sections requiring some route-finding, but conditions were generally navigable and the frozen ground provided good support.
Hikers ascended Moriah on a warm, sunny day with thin mushy snow at lower elevations requiring snowshoes above 600 meters, then descended via boot skiing and snowshoe sliding on rotting snow.
Hiked Killington in Vermont on March 9, 2024, in cold and windy conditions. Trail featured dry lower sections transitioning to crusty, dirty snow above 2400 feet, with spikes needed from mid-mountain and tricky icy terrain on the final steep section to the summit.
First-person account of completing the Southern Presidentials in New Hampshire on March 3, 2024. Conditions included soft and wet ice from recent rain and warm temperatures; snowshoes were worn throughout and were effective on packed snow and slushy ice sections despite some exposed rock.
First-person trip report of a winter hike of the Northern Presidentials in New Hampshire on February 25, 2024. The group climbed Mount Monroe, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison in good weather with temperatures in the teens, light winds, and mostly sunny skies. Trail conditions were generally good with crusty, supportive snow surface and minimal crowds throughout the day.
Winter traverse of Hale, Zealand, West Bond, Bond, and Bondcliffs in the White Mountains on February 20, 2024. Conditions included some snow depth and wind exposure on the open ridges, particularly strong winds on the Bond-Bondcliffs crossing, with limited visibility throughout the day.
Hiked Ellen via the Jerusalem Trail and Long Trail in Vermont on February 17, 2024, encountering about a foot of fresh snow on the ridge from a recent snowfall. Route-finding was necessary due to snow cover and blowdown on the Long Trail, though clearing work from the previous weekend had helped. Summit was socked in clouds, but conditions improved lower on the descent with sun and pleasant weather.
Hikers climbed Moosilauke via Ravine Lodge and Snapper trail on February 11, 2024 during winter conditions. The parking area and road walk were icy/glare ice; the Snapper trail was heavily postholed from the previous day's sun and warmth, but the Carriage Road was well-packed. Summit was socked in with clouds and wind, and lower-elevation sections began to soften in afternoon sun.
Hiked the Hancock Loop on February 10, 2024 in the White Mountains. Started with bare boots on a frozen, slippery trail before switching to snowshoes; encountered mist from melting snow on the ridge with warm temperatures around 57°F by day's end.
On February 5, 2024, hikers completed a loop of the Osceolas via Greeley Pond and Mount Osceola trails, using snowshoes and spikes. East Osceola's steep section was slippery from previous day's slides; the chimney section and ridge descent required traction devices on hard-packed snow. Wind on the ridge was manageable and summit views of Waterville Valley were clear.
Two hikers ascended Cannon via Kinsman Ridge Trail from the ski area and traversed to the Kinsmans in early February. Trail conditions were mostly well-packed with some snow, scattered spruce blowdown across the trail, exposure near Cannon's summit, and windy conditions.
Three hikers completed a winter ascent of Carrigain via Sawyer River Road on February 3, 2024. Lower elevations had packed snow suitable for bare-booting, while higher sections required snowshoes. Wind on the exposed ridge was stronger than forecast, but generally pleasant conditions with sun and minimal wind below treeline on descent.</summary>
<parameter name="confidence">High
On January 28, 2024, hikers completed the Willey Range loop (Tom, Field, Willey) with good trail conditions and surprising views of the Presidentials and surrounding peaks despite a cloudy forecast. The well-packed trail was in good hiking condition with minimal snow/ice mentions, and views opened up at multiple summits throughout the day.
A winter hike to Isolation via Rocky Branch trail, Engine Hill bushwhack, and Isolation bushwhack on January 27, 2024. The trail was well-packed from recent use, with about four inches of fresh snow from the previous day. The summit was in clouds with no views.</summary>
<parameter name="tags">["snow", "bushwhack", "low-visibility"]
Three hikers completed a ridge traverse of six White Mountains peaks on January 20, breaking trail on the Carter-Moriah trail connector which had not been used in several weeks. Winter conditions included new snow over recent tracks, drifts, and extreme cold with forecasted windchills around -15 to -20°F.
Three inches of fresh snow on the ground with snow continuing throughout the hike on Garfield. Trail conditions involved bare-booting initially with microspikes added before the summit push; snow depth maxed around six inches with isolated drifts exceeding one foot. Summit was whiteout with no visibility.
A winter hike in the White Mountains on January 6, 2024, connecting Passaconaway, Whiteface, and the Tripyramids via the Kate Sleeper trail. The group started bare-booting but switched to spikes when encountering ice higher on the trail; conditions were overcast with clouds moving in near the end of the hike.
Hiker summited Tecumseh via the Waterville Valley trail on a warm, sunny day. Started bare-booting but switched to spikes when ice became prevalent on the trail. Trail was not excessively steep despite proximity to the ski resort.
A New Year's Day ascent of Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains featuring Lafayette, Lincoln, Little Haystack, Flume, and Liberty. The hiker used microspikes on ice flows above treeline but hiked the lower trail without snow, encountering good weather and clear views throughout the day.
Hikers visited Richmond Mountain on November 18, 2023, finding wet conditions after recent rain and navigating old roads to reach a short, steep bushwhack summit approach. The summit was socked in with fog and brief snow flurries during the descent.
Hiker summited Washington, Monroe, Eisenhower, and Pierce via Jewell Trail on a mild, sunny day with good breezes and dry trail conditions despite rainfall the previous day.
Hiker completed Camel's Hump in Vermont on July 2, 2023 via the Burroughs Trail. Conditions were rainy and misty all day with wet rock throughout; the descent on the Long Trail involved sketchy scrambling and steep wet rocky terrain, resulting in multiple slips and falls though no injuries.
A hiker completed the Catskill Hundred Public Access Peaks challenge by summiting Woodpecker Ridge, along with Balsam Lake Mountain and Millbrook Ridge, on a foggy, damp, and windy day. Conditions included typical forest (beech, yellow birch, cherry) with bogs and ferns, accessed via the Balsam Lake to Alder Lake trail.