| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Leadmine Ledge, Mt. Hayes, Mascot Pond, Mascot Mine, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Road walks, Presidential Rail Trail, Undermine Trail, Mahoosuc Trail, logging road, bootleg trail, Mascot Pond Spur, herd path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, February 18, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Yikes, where to begin. The start of the MT is very confusing to find. I parked at the old RR bridge on Rt. 16 in Gorham. It's plowed and there's room for several cars. I'll spare the details of my wandering about, but to get to the trail, do this: Cross the river on the pedestrian walkway under the bridge. On the other side, turn left (sign: AMC Trail). At the next fork in the road (no sign), bear right. At next intersection, turn left (sign: AMC Trail). Immediately after crossing the power canal on a bridge, turn right (microscopic sign: Mahoosuc Hiking Trail Detour). Bear right on a side trail (sign: Undermine). At end of that trail, turn right on road. The MT will be up a ways on the left, opposite some signs for the canal. This trek from Rt. 16 is sparsely marked with not enough signs and not enough tiny pieces of flagging. This really could be much clearer. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Several small drainages and one stream, all easily crossed. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few minor blowdowns along with scattered wind debris on the MT. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Very icy for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
Nope. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
#50 for my 52WAV. Once I finally found the start of the trail, I was on my way. Where the MT meets a very clear logging road, I turned east on that road for a few hundred feet to the junction with a bootleg trail (homemade sign). This led another few hundred feet to the top of Leadmine Ledge, offering a great vista over Gorham.
Doubling back, I got back on the MT and it was a fairly quick ascent to the ledges on Hayes. Grades here are easy to moderate, with some steep stuff just before the ledges. I continued to the actual summit (wooded), and beyond to the junction with the Centennial Trail, then turned around. Back at the ledges, I hung out for a while in the warm sun. Awesome views over the northern Presidentials and the Carter-Moriah Range.
On the descent, I took the quick side trip to Mascot Pond, and then climbed up to Mascot Mine, above the pond (herd path marked by a piece of flagging). The ascent to the mine is up a very steep and loose talus slope. It was mostly ice-free being in the sun, but wet, muddy and slippery. I only went as far as the mine, looks like the herd path keeps going beyond that. Descent was sketchy, I moved very slow and deliberately due to the loose footing.
Back at the pond, it was an easy cruise out to the trailhead, then road walks back to the car.
Trails were mostly ice, with lots of patches of bare ground too. Up higher, there was a bit more snow, but nothing requiring snowshoes. The south ledges on Hayes were dry and ice-free. Snow and ice were softening/melting on the descent due to warming temps and the bright sun. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-02-18 |
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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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