Mount Kearsarge North

Trail: Kearsarge North Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Small Patches

“This trail is ICY. It starts in patches and becomes solid, glass-like ice about a quarter of the way from the tower. I used microspikes and poles on the way up, but after seeing people sliding down a slope on their butts--WITH microspikes--I made the decision to use crampons on the first part of the descent, at least until the ice became patchier again. I also used an ice axe in one hand. Overkill? Maybe, but I honestly felt a lot safer and more secure on the way down with that equipment than just my spikes and poles on the way up. That said, you probably can do the whole thing in spikes; it's just hairier. I met a person who'd somehow made it up and down barebooted and honestly have no idea how that was possible. Aside from the ice, the trail was in overall okay shape. A few blowdowns, but nothing unexpected for late March. It was a beautiful day, and the views from the tower were incredible. The ice made for a challenging hike, but the views were worth it. Can't wait to go back.”

Trail: Kearsarge North Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular

“Bring your rock spikes. Trail is about 40% flow ice, 30% a crunchy skim of snow on top of ice, 20% bare slab/rock and 10% dirt. We mostly opted not to swap back and forth or we would have been stopping every few minutes.”

Trail: Kearsarge North Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky

“I had today off work and with the weather coming in, I decided to stay close to home. It was a beautiful morning, and excellent snow conditions. Slightly icy snow down low, but absolutely fine with regular microspikes, and nice packed powder up high. Even the often tricky spot when you turn right to do the final steep pitch was fine. The new snow and warmer couple of days coming up may change things. There is a lot of snow up high.”