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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Meader, Eagle Crag, NH
Trails
Trails: Basin Trail, Blue Brook Connector, Black Angel Trail, Basin Rim Trail, Meader Ridge Trail, Eagle Link, Wild River Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 28, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The parking area across from the campground was fairly full when we arrived; only a few when we left. The access road is an excellent gravel road now. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Most were rock hops, a couple of them a bit under water. The biggest one, the Wild River at the former Spider Bridge, forced us to go upstream a short ways above a side brook to where the Wild River split, where we rock hopped to the island and then went up a ways to rock vault (for me, Pepper swam) across the other fork. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Eagle Link and Wild River to East Branch had a fair number of mostly step over blowdowns; a couple on the Wild River were straddle overs. All signs were in place. Eagle Link and Wild River in places had footpaths hidden under low vegetation where the canopy was sparse. Experienced hikers will have no problems following them; those who like regular blazes and wide open trails might be uncomfortable. All had wet and mud spots although more were on Eagle Cliff and Wild River, which have not seen the same maintence as the other trails. Basin has been well maintained; the water table is high and soils thin. The ridge trails were mostly dry. There is some major Irene damage in a few places on the Wild River, mostly in its lower sections, but for the most part it is easy hiking. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Plenty of water for sip n dips, even a few on the ridge trails, made Pepper a happy pupper. He also had fun sending the rodents scurrying, but unfortunately he had a run in with a young porcupine. I was able to remove 6 or so quills, but 2 remained fairly deeply embedded at the edges of his mouth and he didn't let me get them. So he just got back from a visit to the Vet, where he was tranquilized for easy removal. He should be as good as new after a night's sleep.  
Bugs
Bugs: A little bit of everything, deer flies, black flies, skeeters and face gnats, but overall they were a very minor nuisance. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Found a blue and white towel on Wild River a short ways up from the campground, which I draped over a trail sign post. 
 
Comments
Comments: I finally decided on this hike driving through Gorham, when I had gone past all the other options, but it was a good day for it. We saw only 3 other guys and that was on Eagle Cliff; they had camped out overnight at the Spruce Brook tentsites. The hiking was relatively easy, the non ridge trails were in places wet, muddy and brushy, but also quite nice in others. The ridge trails had some nice views in places, although it was very hazy. We used the peaks to salute Ed n Lauky, and wish for Lauky to get better. They are such a wonderful hiking man-dog team, something we can really appreciate.  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail: windriversjohn at gmail dot com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-06-28 
Link
Link: https:// 
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