Mt Monroe via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail - 4/27

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NH Tramper

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Apr 10, 2012
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Location
North Conway, NH Avatar: Cannon Mtn.
Date of Hike: April 27, 2014

Trail Conditions: From bare ground, to thin snow cover, to ice, to thick snow cover, the Ammo offered us the whole shebang. Fortunately we were prepared for it all. The monorail (which wasn't quite that yet due to surrounding cover) was pretty solid so while we did wear snowshoes for much of the hike, they weren't really needed; it was cold enough and the snow was packed enough... today. What we got out of using them was getting them off our packs, and much needed traction. If warmer they'd be needed for sure. Above treeline it was winter once again, complete with many "trails" -- snowing (getting deeper), blowing, and a bit nippy. That said, workers were at the LOC hut, at least one that we saw; windows unboarded, repairs are underway. Spring is in the air. Lastly, the crossing* by the half open Gem Pool was a breeze, trail mud was limited, and there were no blowdowns. I'll give it a B+.

Special Equipment Used: We brought trekking poles, crampons, and snowshoes. We didn't bother bringing spikes due to the high balling potential of the snow, though they could have been good to have today if that wasn't an issue. We barebooted to start, switched to snowshoes for the bulk of the trek, then employed crampons for the summit push. On descent, we reversed the order.

Comments: Hiked this one as a lead for my work with Northeast Mountaineering. Things are winding down on the winter climbs and ice is about done, but it was nice to get in one more before we get involved with rock climbing, waterfall rappelling, hut-to-hut adventures, wilderness navigation and some of the other stuff we do.

Mike "Tramper" Cherim
North Conway NH

*ETA: Whoops, forgot, the other crossing up high was easy as well, though it looked like it was going to be tricky.
 
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