Franconia Ridge

Franconia Ridge

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Breaking Trail to Mount Isolation


Summits: Mount Isolation (4,003')
Trail route: Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Mt Isolation spur
Trail conditions: Unconsolidated snow and some unbroke trails
Weather: Cold morning temps with sunshine and a deep blue sky
Total miles: 12.5
Total time:  10 hours

I have a lot of long hikes to complete my 48 4,000 foot grid for December and today's hike was one of them. I would be joining 11 other hikers for the long hike into Mount Isolation. Included in this hike was Mark, Steve, Jill, Amy, Jim, Lisa, Scott, Danielle, Larry, Marty and Dolores. It was going to be a long day.

It was nice to have so many hikers along to help pack down the trail but it turned out to be more than that and there would be unexpected trail breaking to be done. We started out with a -6°F temperature but it wasn't long before it warmed up a bit and we were able to shed a layer. We had microspikes on to start as the trail was broke out but the snow was loose. The microspikes proved to be fine for the conditions of this section of the trail.

We arrived at the Engine Hill bushwhack and swapped from microspikes to snowshoes. As we got into the bushwhack there was no discernable broke out path other than a set of moose prints. Scott and Lisa were leading the pack and breaking trail. We were following the Gaia GPS track that I had on my phone. We made a meandering path but it got us to the Isolation Trail.

Once we got on the Isolation Trail there were three water crossings to negotiate. They were all snow bridged but it still felt a little precarious. We made it across each one without breaking through even with some loud cracking on one of them.

We continued on to the Davis Path and up to the summit of Mount Isolation. This was a popular hike today as there were many hikers coming and going on the summit. We took a nice break here and enjoyed the views. It was also a good time to have something to eat. After photos and feeding the gray jays we started our long trek back to the trailhead.

We made it past all the water crossings without getting wet. We then retraced our trail through the Engine Hill bushwhack that we broke out on the way in. As we descended the Rocky Branch Trail it was getting dark and the headlamps came out for the remaining hike to the parking lot.

It was a long day hiking through unconsolidated snow for miles with snowshoes. Another tough December hike but a great group of hiking friends made it a fun hike!

Enjoy the photos and video!

Hike starts here on a cold morning

Sun rising

Snowy Rocky Branch Trail

Entering the Dry River Wilderness

Open water easily crossed

Ice formations in a brook

Moose bed recently occupied

Birch glades along the Engine Hill bushwhack

Marty recovering from a fall

Spruce and birch

Bridged water crossing

Everyone crosses safely

Another water crossing



Snowy Isolation Trail

Mount Washington from the Davis Path


Mount Washington from the summit of Mount Isolation

Hikers can be seen going up the summit cone of Mount Washington

Mount Monroe

Mount Eisenhower

Hikers can be seen on the summit of Mount Eisenhower

Leaving the summit of Mount Isolation for the long hike back


Lisa returning over a water crossing

Sun going down

Jim in the birch glades

Back through the birch glades

Moose print

The "T" marks the Engine Hill bushwhack

Back at the trailhead in the dark after 12.5 miles in 10 hours




Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!


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