Mount Chocorua

Trail: Piper Trail, Middle Sister Trail, Carter Ledge Trail, Nickerson Ledge Trail

Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes

“Party of 4 up Chocorua via Piper, across the Sisters & down via Carter & Nickerson Ledge. Piper was moderately packed but the base was soft and there was minor drifting and postholing through it; we started in spikes but switched to snowshoes within 0.5mi. Passed other hikers barebooting and two folks coming down part of Piper in fat tire bikes. The summit cone slabs were a mix of ice, hardpack, drifts of varying depth, postholes through drifts. Ice wasn't bad except on the last scramble before the summit --crampons and/or an ax wouldn't be overkill on that sketchy spot (although I made it up in snowshoes and down in spikes). Middle Sister Trail, Carter Ledge, and Nickerson weren't broken out--any previous work there was thoroughly drifted in but there was a noticeable trough in some places. Some of the drifts on the sisters and upper Carter were mighty. Snow was alternately powder and sastrugi. All of the ledges were deep snow ramps which we butt-slid down or skied down on our snowshoes. No exposed ice. Despite our work, I wouldn't call it "broken out" given the snow depth and loose powder conditions, and wouldn't advise ascending via Carter Ledge unless you enjoy two steps forward- one step back shuffle. Nickerson steeps were sun-crusted and not as deep as Carter. Snow squalls all day with no accumulation. Where was the predicted sun?”

Trail: Hammond Trail, Liberty Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts

“Packed up to Bald Mountain and tracks ended at Weetamoo trail…. After that I broke trail to the summit of Mt Chocorua…. A lot of wind blown snow and drifts I plowed through….. tough hike…. The last 0.3 was a slog but I got there. I did my best to even it out on the way back. There is a small bump just before you get to Jim Liberty cabin when going up…. Follow my tracks, I bushwhacked over to a bald spot with excellent views. A lot of snow up there.”

Trail: Champney Falls Trail, Piper Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Small Patches

“Solid foundation and broken trail, 4 or so inches of powder on top. One person ahead, bare booted to tree line and then used snowshoes to go on top (mountaineering shoes). Summit trail surface was primarily crusty/packed snow, icy patches. Micro spikes might have been better once across snow fields for easier maneuvering, mostly on the final pitch up to summit. Full crampons were not necessary. Very windy, super strong gusts required full gear and careful foot placement and timing. As it was a sunny day and high teens/low twenties, once out of the wind it was lovely. Snow shoes all the way down.”