I will start off this thread with my report for 4/17/13. This is mostly intended to convince folks that just because the the grass is green down south that the whites are green and dry.
These are the conditions at 1400 feet near the Gorham Randoph NH townline on RT 2.
The snow cover has dropped dramatically in the last week, areas with sun exposure are mostly clear of snow except for packed surfaces, like snowbanks. Even in shaded sections of dense soft woods, the snow cover is sparse or non exisitent. There are still patches in the clear in areas where snow build up was high this winter and the areas are shaded. I can see snow in the open about one thord way up the first Howk on Madison which would imply that there is still plenty of snow on the north slope of the northern presidentials which is the normal hiking approach side.
I have not seen the muddy footprints at the bog on the side of Rt2 so that usually indicates that the local moose havent moved back to their springtime hangouts adjacent to the roads (but they may still be active). If this season is similar to past years I expect to see the tracks within a week or so.
I expect the periods of rain with warm weather later this week are going to burn off more snow but as usual its still potentially winter conditions at the summits and I expect plenty of snow to make postholing a painful experience. The frost is still coming out of the ground and therefore dirt side roads are muddy and most likely closed.
A reminder that the Long Trail in VT is now closed due to mud season and that anyone hiking in the greens or the whites is most likely going to encounter mud. Please be responsible and stay on the trail as the damage to the sides of the trail accumulate rapidly and I dont think anyone appreciates a 10 foot wide mud pit.
These are the conditions at 1400 feet near the Gorham Randoph NH townline on RT 2.
The snow cover has dropped dramatically in the last week, areas with sun exposure are mostly clear of snow except for packed surfaces, like snowbanks. Even in shaded sections of dense soft woods, the snow cover is sparse or non exisitent. There are still patches in the clear in areas where snow build up was high this winter and the areas are shaded. I can see snow in the open about one thord way up the first Howk on Madison which would imply that there is still plenty of snow on the north slope of the northern presidentials which is the normal hiking approach side.
I have not seen the muddy footprints at the bog on the side of Rt2 so that usually indicates that the local moose havent moved back to their springtime hangouts adjacent to the roads (but they may still be active). If this season is similar to past years I expect to see the tracks within a week or so.
I expect the periods of rain with warm weather later this week are going to burn off more snow but as usual its still potentially winter conditions at the summits and I expect plenty of snow to make postholing a painful experience. The frost is still coming out of the ground and therefore dirt side roads are muddy and most likely closed.
A reminder that the Long Trail in VT is now closed due to mud season and that anyone hiking in the greens or the whites is most likely going to encounter mud. Please be responsible and stay on the trail as the damage to the sides of the trail accumulate rapidly and I dont think anyone appreciates a 10 foot wide mud pit.
