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Joined: May 2006
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Joined: May 2006
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I was wondering if anyone has been up Kearsarge pass. I was planning on doing a overnighter on Charlotte Lake and bag Mt Bago on Thanksgiving. Any input will be appreciated. The ranger said there was snow and when I asked if it was passable without crampons he said he didn't know.

Joined: Sep 2004
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Last year during the last weekend of October we hiked up Kearsarge Pass on the way to Mt. Gould. Our overnight camp was at Matlock Lake. The trail to Matlock had snow, in some areas up to knee deep. The trail up to Kearsarge Pass was bone dry. Temps are forecast to possibly get into the low 50's this weekend at that elevation. Even if there was snow, it would probably melt into slush that would be easily passable during the day; at least on the east side it's not a trail with any dicey sections to speak of, and looks similar on the west. It will get colder next week, but no precip. in forecast so far. I wouldn't put too much faith in what the rangers say unless they've personally been up there. Mt. Bago is another matter.

In any case, I will probably be going up there this weekend. If I do, I will post a report.

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Just got back today (Monday) from the Kearsarge Pass area. The switchbacks leading up to and down from the pass on either side should not be a problem; they have thin strips of snow along the trail that are easily bypassed if need be, and they are not dicey by any means. Your problem will be the approach to the saddle where you first gain views of the pass; particularly the rocky section right before Gilbert Lake and the trail right after it and up to the saddle; there is snow on a good part of the trail, particularly on the switchbacks right below the saddle. When I hiked up Friday and Saturday the snow was soft and passable, but by today when I hiked back down from Flower Lake, the slushy snow had frozen into ice for a good part of the trail, and this was the middle of the day; fairly slippery in parts, and I expect the switchbacks below the saddle were the same. It is forecast to be below freezing even in the daytime for Thanksgiving, so my thought is you will need some sort of traction device at the very least; I think crampons might be overkill lower down, but good for the switchbacks. It depends on how comfortable you are with this kind of terrain. Expect intermittent snow and ice and clear trail. I hiked down the pass and to just east and above Bullfrog Lake; patches of foot deep snow in some places but nothing spectacular. Fairly dry in most areas. The lower trail bypassing Kearsarge Lakes is another matter; looked like more snow in that area and the Lakes are frozen. Can't really say much about Mt. Bago and the need for crampons, but figure it'll be fairly icey this weekend. It looked to have some sections that were fairly free of snow, but this is observation from a distance. Hope this helps.

Joined: Dec 2006
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ExPro

How was University looking? I'm leaving tommorrow night to try and dayhike it on Friday.

Joined: Sep 2004
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University Peak on Monday.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2885041280098764491KhUTlx

I expect it to be very icey as the days will be at or below freezing in the area this weekend. Here's the NOAA point forecast for 13,100 ft. in the OV area:

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 26. Blustery, with a north wind between 21 and 29 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph.

Last edited by ExPro; 11/22/07 01:57 PM.
Joined: Dec 2006
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Awesome, thanks a bunch!!


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