Mount Shaw

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Mt. Roberts Trail, High Ridge Trail, Faraway Mountain Trail, Turtleback Mountain Trail, Bald Knob Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Definitely saw it all today over this almost 18 mile trek. Conditions were terrible and slow going. I bare booted up to Robert’s and that’s where the fun started. I put on my snowshoes (Dion’s worked perfect here) & broke trail for about 10 miles over to Faraway, up to Shaw where I changed into spikes, but then I needed them for Turtleback as well. Yay spring! Someone ahead of me post holed the entire 9 miles that I broke trail to Shaw. I have so many questions. Coming out was very muddy, entire sections of where the trail is a road is collapsing, many breaking ice, bridges, very slippery mud. Lots of water on trail at lower elevations. Still lots of snow up high, some drifts as high as 4 or 5 feet still on the High Ridge Trail. Still somehow one of the best days ever! I got to meet cookies on top and I’ve been reading her trail reports for a while, and it was great to know where the name came from. Your dog is such a sweetie! Hope to see you out there again!

Trails Used

Cold Spring Road, Cold Spring Trail, Faraway Mountain Connector, Faraway Mountain Trail, Oak Ridge Cutoff, High Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

18th/52 WAV for Cody. Not sure the impact of up coming snow storm may have on trails. Currently, the road is free of snow. Lower trails have patches of snow & ice intermittent with patches of bare trail covered in leaves, rocks, running water. Progressively snow increasing with elevation up to Ridge Trail which is mostly postholed snow. It was a day of changing traction. Spikes were helpful at lower elevations, but not entirely ideal since the bare patches (leaves/mud/etc.) were large and snow / ice covered stretches were discontinuous. Snowshoes were helpful on the ridge trail, however, it was very uneven and riddled with postholes and a bit like mashed potatoes. Others said the entire trail from Roberts was similar (postholed, etc.) and very difficult to hike. The snowmo section leading to the summit was minimally snow covered, packed, and could be bare booted. Snowshoes were choice for descent on Ridge trail and Faraway until the bare patches were significant. Only about 8 heading to Shaw today.

Parking

Lots of spaces at Hiker Parking lot

Water Crossings

Step overs maybe from melt / couple of bridges