| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Mountain South Knob, Perkins Notch, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Black Mtn Ski, East Pasture X-Country Ski, Bald Land, East Branch, Wild River, Wildcat River, Bog Brook, spurs and road walks |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, April 21, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the Black Mtn Ski area trailhead but I was a bit uncomfortable doing so. There are several no parking, no parking in the turnaround, no admittance (in a new place where fill is being dumped) signs. I assumed the turnaround referred to an area to the right of the trail as one is looking towards it, and not to the whole cleared area between it and the no admittance, but the cleared area looked like a big turnaround as well. I ended up pulling as far to the edge of the cleared area near but not blocking the driveway access that is also the trail. But next time I'd probably park up at the new parking area for the Bog Brook trail and do the Carter Notch Rd walk first. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Most of the side streams entering East Branch Saco River were simple rock steps; a few required attention but were dry boots. Wild River was a rock hop after finding a route. We did Wildcat River about 30' upstream from the direct crossing via some boulder leaps. The direct crossing was doable as a wet boot rocks leaps. The second crossing was rock steps. The Wildcat Brook crossing was easy using a large downed tree that crossed the stream. All in all they were not a risk but with regular trail runners a wet foot couldn't be ruled out. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Black Mtn Ski trail and the Cutoff had no significant problems, just avoidable mud. I think there was a blowdown on the spur to the cabin water. The other trails had a blowdown or two, and a fair number of spots where side slope drainage into low/no slope trails caused water to collect and with it mud; along with a couple of places where they skirted a wetland. But for the most part these trails were pretty dry by Spring standards, and very easy to follow. I don't know if my memory is faulty about prior conditions or if it is getting better with experience so that I just know where the trails go, but the post Black Mtn trails seem to be quite a better than they used to be where I first started doing these trails, and even better than our last loop a couple of years ago. Thanks to those who have done trail work on these trails. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper had fun. This is a fairly long hike, but the slopes are modest, the footpaths easy on the paws, the stream crossings doable, and there are more sip n dip spots than even a Lab could wish for. Pepper must have made 30 sip n dip stops. He also made sure a moose didn't mess with us. A leash is needed for the first part of the Black Mtn ski trail (sign) and a good idea for the Carter Notch Rd & Melloon Rd walks. |
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 | Bugs: |
2-3 black flies buzzed me. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This is a great loop hike far from the crowds, especially on a Spring weekday. We didn't see another dog or man except on the Carter Notch Rd walk. There were a few small and scattered remnants of ice which were easily avoided. Some people may be uncomfortable with the lack of paint blazes, obvious footpaths and things like water bars, and the remoteness. Only Wildcat River and Bog Brook had paint blazes, but there were blue plastic diamonds every so often on the East Branch and Wild River trails. There are signs where the major trails intersect, but where East Pasture comes down to an obvious trail, the signs to the north say East Pasture and Woodlands (or something like that) but there is nothing to tell one to just head right and down. After that just stay on the trail/old road when it passes a couple of roads that intersect with it; you will then find snowmobile signs where it intersects Bald Land. We of course went down to the East Pasture trail head where there is a sign for it but not Bald Land, but the area looks different to me from just a couple of years ago, perhaps due to recent logging and some more home development. The viewpoints off Bald Land no longer view much. We explored the old road beyond them a bit but ran into a lot of debris and turned around. A short ways after the view point spur the road heads a bit left and up while an old woods road splits right with a FR 5033? marker on it. It looks like and is the trail. The campsites above No Ketchum Pond looked inviting.
It was a great day and a great time of year to do this hike, and a day off from work to boot. I hiked in Hoka One One trail runners and stayed dry, but they do provide extra height with their thick soles, and I did pick my way carefully through the many wet spots and stream crossings. It was a T-shirt and shorts type hike with our somewhat late start. Thanks Pepper for a great day. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-04-21 |
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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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