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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Sandwich Dome, NH
Trails
Trails: Flat Mountain Pond Trail, Bennett Street Trail, Gleason Trail, Algonquin Trail, Black Mountain Pond Trail, Mary Cary Falls Path, Guinea Pond Trail, Guinea Pond Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 1, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Thelast section of the dirt road to the Bennett Street trailhead has received some much-needed attention since my last visit, last November. I had no trouble driving to the parking lot, unlike then 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Many, but the only bad one was a section of the Guinea Pond Trail about a half-mile south of its Cold River crossing, where beavers seem recently to have extended their pond. I had to tightrope-walk a long log and then bushwhack around a flooded section. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: These aren't the most popular trails so there were blowdowns on all of them, but none that were a big problem. The upper section of the Black Mtn. Pond Trail is a steep, slippery b*ll-buster - not recommended, although there are some good views. The Guinea Pond Spur, "impassible" in 2011 per the AMC Guide, is passible again, as previously noted, although the sign for it has been removed. The signs for the closed, upper section of the Gleason Trail are now gone. There is still no sign at the upper end of the Bennett Street Trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: I met one person all day - a guy camping with his dog at Black Mtn. Pond. He had no intention of tackling the steep upper section of the BMP Trail, which would be tough for any dog. 
Bugs
Bugs: Not a problem, but my bug-repellent outfit probably helped. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: I seem to have lost my Tyvek copy of the AMC Map for the Sandwich Range, which was in my pocket for the last part of the hike. 
 
Comments
Comments: Topping 14 miles by a little, this was a tiring and thirsty way to spend a 90-degree day, but fun and with many fine views. Never again for the Black Mtn. Pond Trail's upper section, however, which was painfully slow going.  
Name
Name: Amicus 
E-Mail
E-Mail: mcsamicus@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-06-03 
Link
Link: https://amicus.smugmug.com/Hiking/2013/Sandwich-Mtn-from-the-East/29759878_PcqQX6#!i=2549379975&k=wbmrGb3 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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