| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Mountain - Middle Peak, Perkins Notch, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Black Mountain Ski Trail, Black Mountain Cutoff, East Pasture Ski Trail, Bald Land Trail, East Branch Trail, Wild River Trail, Bog Brook Trail, Carter Notch Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 16, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At the Black Mtn TH off Meloon, it appears one just parks around the edges of the pit/dump site next to the gate. At Bald Land I guess one just uses the shoulder. At Bog Brook, as noted above there are a few new places just before the gate. The class VI road in to them is in good shape, but with false ditches it could wash out in a good rain. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock hops |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Black Mtn okay; I think one eroding area could use a waterbar. The Black Mtn Cutoff was area; a very footbed. East Pasture okay, mostly an old grassy road lacking any signs below the one on Black Mtn. with a faint footpath - just keep heading down when Ys are encountered. We took it down to the road and back up to Bald Land. Bald Land more grassy old road until it hits are forest road. The viewpoints aren't full of views anymore. The trail turns left and follows the road for a short stretch and turns off to the right on a real trail without a sign, although a FR 5033 post was there. East Branch Rd a bit eerie for its short stretch; it just hasn't been used. East Branch Trail had a dozen or more step over blowdowns up to the wilderness sign, with a touch walk around just below it. Above it there were half a dozen more. None of these were hard for hikers; skiers would be annoyed. East Branch approaching the HOL was brushy and also some parts down to Wild River. Much of East Branch was nice, but it also had lots of mudpits and few rooty muddy stretches where the old trail had been lost; which slow things down. Wild River had some mud pits and a brushy spot or two. There are herd paths to No Ketchum Pond and to the tentsites near or at the old shelter; indeed the latter are better than the trail. Where one of the tentsite trails comes off Wild River there is a post with square board but no actual sign. Here the Wild River trail continues by going through the vegetation blocking the trail and then over an old bog bridge. I was confused by the fact that the obvious footpath went to the tentsites, pulled out the maps and AMC Guide, and then pushed through the vegetation. Bog Brook was way better than I recalled it. There is a slight detour at the first crossing making it easier, although the beavers are gone so even the old might work. I ran into the trail maintainer who was brushing the trail and had fun talking with and thanking him. The last section near the Carter Notch Rd has been re-routed north of the house and south of the gate. There is a new parking area that could hold four or so cars; a few more could park on a shoulder without blocking the gate. The old parking area is also available, but the old path is blocked off. There is a post with a paper sign for the new trailhead. All in all the trails after Black Mtn were a mix of nice footbeds and muddy pits, but with care one can usually find pieces of wood tossed into these pits to step on and stay out of the mud. There are periodic blue diamonds for a ski path, and much of it is obvious, but I can see where those used to heavily blazed and used trails would be uncomfortable. The AMC Guide might be a good companion. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper had fun. There were so many sip n dips, easy slopes and nice footbeds, and two moose to chase on Bog Brook between the TH and road. The moose weren't about to leave for me, but as soon as Pepper saw them and charged, they took off. He drove them both off the trail in different directions, but didn't chase either far, and came back looking pretty satisfied with himself. I had him on his leash for the start (as requested by a sign for the start of Black Mtn) and for the road walk, but there was no traffic. Otherwise, with no other hikers, he enjoyed his freedom. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few; nothing problematic. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This was an interesting loop walk around Black Mtn. There really is very little climbing involved. Views are very limited. I could see where good X-country skiers would like this loop especially if the above ground blowdowns were removed. Due to the extensive grassy road sections, and muddy pits, it would be a very wet experience to do it in/after the rain, or in spring where some of the stream crossings can be difficult. It was a good day for it too. We didn't see a single hiker on any of the trails, not even at the No Ketchum Pond tentsites, excepting the trail maintainer. There were people in the Black Mtn cabin. Thanks Pepper for getting us out to areas I hadn't been in for a long time. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-08-16 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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