Mount Hayes

Trail: Centennial Trail, Mahoosuc Trail, bushwhack, Hogan Road

Conditions: Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Small Patches

“I barebooted with almost no snow until about two miles in, when the patches of shallow snow and ice start to be more consistent. For the last half mile before the summit the trail has several steep sections completely covered in ice and that's where I had no choice but to swap to spikes. Once at the summit and along the ridge I took my spikes off since it's almost all bare rock but put them on for a brief part of the descent below the ledges down the Mahoosuc trail. After the lead mine I followed what might've been old mining roads for a ways before meeting back with Hogan Rd and road walking back to the start. It's spring conditions out there, but overall pretty pleasant as long as you expect your feet to get a bit wet.”

Trail: Mahoosuc Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery

“Trail is mostly bare ground until Fairy Spring junction around 2.75 miles in. Standing water, running water, and mud in the usual spots but for mid March it was nice to have a snow free trail this early. Above Fairy Spring to the ledges there is a decent ice flow that covers the trail for a few hundred feet, easily bypassed by going off trail into the mostly open woods. Ledges are bare. I did not continue on to the summit but I'd expect there to be rotting snow and icy spots if you head there.”

Trail: Mahoosuc Trail

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

“I broke out from Hogan road up Hayes, across to Cascade and to about 0.5mi north of Cascade. Trail was unbroken and varied from shin to thigh deep. The trail isn't super well packed because I was solo, but it's as good as I could get it. By the time I got back to Hayes another group had come through and properly packed out the trail. It looked like they'd come up vi the AT and down Mahoosic trail. Lots of moose tracks out and about!!”