nartreb
Well-known member
At trailhead elevation, barely a dusting of snow.
Roads were in excellent shape. Dirt section of Cardigan Mtn Rd was sanded and quite safe for even a subcompact car; park entrance road was unsanded but still passable.
This trail is prone to thick ice in several spots, and there was plenty of it already. Many previous feet meant the ice was visible despite a dusting of powder on top.
Light traction is helpful but not really sufficient; the major strategy for dealing with the ice is to bypass the worst sections. Crampons would not be very practical due to lack of snow (frequent rocks and roots). Snow depth always under an inch.
Summit cone almost completely bare. A couple of inches of snow drifted into cracks, very little rime or ice.
Wind on summit very stiff, as expected.
Spruce Ridge wind turbines [edit: Groton turbines?] quite visible, but I found them pleasant to look at. Seemed like less of a disturbance than the ski slopes in the other direction.
Summary: short but often icy route. Light traction recommended, poles helpful.
Conditions likely to change tonight...
Roads were in excellent shape. Dirt section of Cardigan Mtn Rd was sanded and quite safe for even a subcompact car; park entrance road was unsanded but still passable.
This trail is prone to thick ice in several spots, and there was plenty of it already. Many previous feet meant the ice was visible despite a dusting of powder on top.
Light traction is helpful but not really sufficient; the major strategy for dealing with the ice is to bypass the worst sections. Crampons would not be very practical due to lack of snow (frequent rocks and roots). Snow depth always under an inch.
Summit cone almost completely bare. A couple of inches of snow drifted into cracks, very little rime or ice.
Wind on summit very stiff, as expected.
Spruce Ridge wind turbines [edit: Groton turbines?] quite visible, but I found them pleasant to look at. Seemed like less of a disturbance than the ski slopes in the other direction.
Summary: short but often icy route. Light traction recommended, poles helpful.
Conditions likely to change tonight...
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