Trails Used
AT, Stratton brook pond rd, Fire warden, Bigelow range, Horn pond
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
WOOOWHEE! What a day! Hit the trail to find patchy ice under 3-4" powder. Put on the snowshoes to avoid sliding around, but it was rather bony down low. That was working great up to the climb after moose falls tent site. The steepest sections were thick glare ice under powder. Pulled out the guns (k10s) which made light work of the situation. I incorrectly guessed I would need the extra grip above treeline. Drifted powder was the game up high. Back to snowshoes. Very little ice above treeline. The wind was gusting a bit, but all the clouds blew off and away! Heading over the ridge was a blast! There were a couple sections with ice under the powder which required finessing while descending. The wind died down a little by the time I was over at the horns, so I got to enjoy a break at one of my favorite places (North Horn). Getting off the horn was a little slippery in spots but I was able to do it all in just snowshoes. Horn pond trail was good, awesome views looking back to the ridge. The snow was getting sticky in the sun and bare ground was popping up in select areas, there is still enough snow to need the shoes. I tried taking off the snowshoes when I got back to Stratton pond, but immediately fell on my ass from slick ice hidden under the snow. Snowshoes back on until the end. Not quite there yet. Saw no tracks and no people. "Can you take me away to a far away place, the great unknown, the stepping stone"
Parking
Lot on rt27 is plowed. I was the only one there today
Water Crossings
Nothing major, all jumpable. Some snow bridges are still up and semi supportive