First-person hike on Table, Peekamoose, and Lone on March 28, 2026, with crusty supportive snow and ice in shaded areas. Route-finding was challenging on the descent to Lone due to remaining snowpack obscuring the trail, requiring GPS and compass navigation. The return route from Lone down to the Neversink was also faint with intermittent snow cover and fallen leaves obscuring the path.
Hiker ascended Sentinel Mountain via Liscomb Brook and a bushwhack up steep slopes to 3250 feet on March 28, 2026, encountering 2–5 feet of snow, supportive crust, extensive blowdown, and tight spruce growth near the final cone before turning back. The return descent via tracked route was uneventful.
Hiker completed a loop of Whiteface and Esther on November 20, 2025, using spikes initially on icy lower sections and switching to snowshoes above the Marble Mountain junction. Snow depth increased with elevation, becoming deeper and more firmly packed above treeline, with windswept crusty surface near the summit.
Multi-year collection of user-submitted Catskill trail conditions reports covering seasonal variations in snow, ice, mud, and water conditions across numerous peaks and routes. Reports span from 2021–2025 and include details on required gear (spikes, snowshoes, crampons) and trail hazards for planning purposes.
This is a curated collection of user-submitted trail condition reports for Catskill peaks spanning from late 2021 through April 2025, covering seasonal conditions including snow, ice, mud, trail quality, water availability, and wildlife/bug activity across multiple routes and elevations.
A solo winter hiker completed a 22.8-mile Bonds-Zealand traverse over two days, starting from Lincoln Woods on Wednesday. Conditions included icy trails, deep spruce traps requiring snowshoes, difficult off-trail navigation, and glare ice on the road descent, ultimately requiring an unplanned hitch ride to reach town.
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.
The author and friend Max hiked Roundtop and Kaaterskill High Peak on a cold, sunny winter day, wearing snowshoes throughout most of the hike. The ascent to Roundtop was steep and bushwhacky with good views; they descended via tracks to Kaaterskill High Peak, then took Hurricane Ledge trail down to a snowmobile track. The return on the snowmobile track was unexpectedly difficult with six to twelve inches of crusty snow requiring trail-breaking for three miles.
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 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.
Two hikers completed a bushwhack ascent of Olderbark followed by a ridge traverse to Plateau on November 19, 2022. The upper elevation showed crusty snow and very steep terrain with a cliff band, while the descent involved rocky and wet trail conditions at lower elevations.
Three hikers completed the Rider Hollow Loop for Balsam on a sunny day after 8–10" of fresh snow, breaking trail above the junction and enjoying plunge-stepping and glissading on the descent through wind-packed drifts and deeper powder.