Hiker hiked Big Slide via the Brothers route on March 7, 2026, after a harrowing drive through black ice conditions on Blue Ridge Road. The trail featured packed snow with a supportive snow spine/monorail down the center, significant postholing on the sides, and a challenging stream crossing at Johns Brook Valley with a punched-through snow bridge. Conditions were sunny and warm, making for a pleasant snowshoe hike despite the difficult approach.
A hiker and their buddy completed a winter ascent of Slide Mountain (North Peak) in the Sentinel Range Wilderness on March 22, encountering a monorail on the trail at lower elevations and transitioning to snowshoes around 2500 feet. Conditions featured good crust at higher elevation and softening snow on the descent; the route took approximately 4 hours total.
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.
Route guide for Plateau Mountain via Stony Clove Notch, featuring a steep 1-mile initial climb to Orchard Point lookouts followed by an easy 2.25-mile ridge walk to the summit. Author describes April conditions with residual monorail and mentions seasonal considerations including microspikes on the ridge and exposed sun exposure in summer months.