| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Cube, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Cross-Rivendell Trail, North Peak Side Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 22, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ample parking at the plowed turnaround on Baker Road, which was icy in the morning, wet and muddy in the afternoon, but passable by the average car. Watch for a couple of dogs from the house across from the parking area. They will bark at you, but don't seem too serious about it. There are also a couple of nasty frost heaves heading east on Route 25A. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There's a small brook crossing at 1.7 miles up, but it's buried. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lower part of CRT was littered with twigs and debris from wind. I moved the largest ones out of the way. Other than that, the trails are in great shape. Tall people will be doing some ducking down on the North Peak Side Trail due to heavy, ice-laden branches. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
They'll have an easier time once the trail firms up again. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
After wanting to hike this for a while, I got out to Mt. Cube yesterday, on a truly spectacular winter day, one very fitting of this beautiful mountain.
Of the three routes up the mountain, the only one that was broken out as of yesterday was the Cross-Rivendell Trail, which approaches from the west. A moderate 2.1 mile climb to Cube's South Peak, the trail ascends through fine forest, with two outlooks along the way, terminating at the junction of the Mt. Cube and Kodak Trails atop the South Peak ledges.
Thanks to the folks that had been here in recent weeks and days, there was a nice snowshoe track to follow. It was a bit drifted over near the top due to wind, but still very easy to see. Weather was spectacular, which just added to the beauty of the hike. Bright sunny skies and warm temps were the order of the morning. I'm glad I went when I did, as skies clouded over in the afternoon. The North Peak Side Trail was in rougher shape and not as well broken out, but still passable. I wore snowshoes car to car. With the warming temps and bright sunshine of midday, the lower half of the trail was very mushy upon the descent. The steep pitch up to South Peak was icy in the morning, but had softened up by the time I returned from North Peak.
I'll be back again to visit this wonderful mountain in warmer weather. It's definitely one where you can just hang out on top for a while and soak in the landscape around you.
Thanks to Steve Smith (Mountain Wanderer) for providing info on this hike, and for his work in helping to break out the trail from his visit just two days before. Much appreciated! |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-02-23 |
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 | Link: |
 https://flickr.com/gp/kmacgray/7akz3j/ |
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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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