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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Bald Cap Ledges, Cascade Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Peabody Brook Trail, Bald Cap Ledges Trail, Mahoosuc Trail, Centennial Trail, Hogan Road, North Road
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, July 6, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: There was room for a few cars just off North Rd on the south side, although if I hadn't read it in the AMC Guide I probably wouldn't have used them since there is no regular looking road shoulder. There was room for 10 or so cars at the Centennial TH parking area, but none were there when we hiked by. There were a few cars at the intersection of Hogan and North Rd, but it appeared they were mountain bikers. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Rock steps or step overs. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Peabody Brook in great shape with a wonderful footbed and obvious care, along with an incredible number of old and new bog bridges near Dream Lake. Bald Cap looks pretty new, has its own trail sign, and is in good shape. I went past the final cairn using a semi cleared route of the surveyors (sharp cut stemps galore) but there's nothing beyond that warrants such effort. Mahoosuc was pretty good, much better than I remembered, but with a few stretches of tricky mud and running water. Parts of it past Cascade were difficult to follow two winters ago as they are not well blazed but that is no problem in summer; the footbed is obvious. The sign for Centennial on Hayes was blown over and cracked; I put it back up but it needs more work to withstand stronger wind gusts. Centennial was in good shape, with a nice footbed. All in all I thought these trails were wonderful, an absolute delight to hike. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Pepper had fun thanks to the still mild temps, soft pawbeds, gentle slopes, numerous drainages for much of it and predominantly shaded trails with nice lookouts. Peabody Brook had, no surprise, a brook to listen to and sip n dip in at numerous places. Mahoosuc was drier but with a fair number of small drainages until Cascade. After that water was sparse, but he found a small muddy drainage on a low point on Cascade's ridge to dip in, and then a couple more down a ways on Centennial. On a warmer day a dog would likely need water, but I would suggest doing the loop clockwise to get the drier section out of the way early in the hike and in the cooler part of the day. The road walk was the warmest part of the day for Pepper with sun above and road warmth below (we humans don't feel that heat like a dog, especially a little dog, does), so I'd start the hike out with the road walk if doing this loop in summer. 
Bugs
Bugs: I was buzzed by a few deer flies when the wind dropped in the latter part of the hike. One of them will no longer be there to greet future hikers. I'm sure the wind helped; it was one reason I chose this hike today. Even the dragonflies stayed in their hangers in the am.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: This was such a great hike on a wonderful summer day like today. We especially loved the Peabody Brook and Bald Cap Ledges trails but Centennial was nice too and Mahoosucs mostly good. We saw one person at Bald Cap Ledges, and three twosomes of what looked to be AT hikers after that. Otherwise we really felt like we had gotten far from the maddening crowds on a splendid day. Much of it was a wonderful woods walk but there are some really nice view points too. Thanks Pepper for getting us out on it. Great day!  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail: windriversjohn at gmail dot com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-07-06 
Link
Link: https:// 
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