Balsam Mt/2-23-08

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We took the Oliverea-Mapledale Trail from Rider Hollow, then the Phoenicia-West Branch trail to Balsam Mt, then descended via the Mine Hollow Trail.

We used snow shoes from the parking lot. There were 5 stream crossings with rock stepping stones on the OM trail. We met a large group coming from McKenley Hollow on the Oliverea-Mapledale Trail, all on snow shoes, so there is a pretty nice packed trail in all directions.

There was 5-12 inches of new powdery snow over large patches of ice. We did a lot of sliding around. There is a real steep patch coming down the PW trail just below the summit, so I think we ascended on the easier route.

We got caught in a pile of traffic leaving the Bellearye Ski Center, but otherwise it was a great day.
 
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