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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Israel, Sandwich Dome, NH
Trails
Trails: Wentworth Trail, Mead Trail, Black Mountain Pond Trail, Algonquin Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail, Bennett Street Trail, abandoned Gleason Trail, Flat Mountain Pond Trail, Guinea Pond Trail, Guinea Pond spur, roadwalk, Bearcamp River Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, April 22, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking at Mead Base, I may have been the only one there today, as the car that was there when I arrived, departed before I started out. Sandwich Notch Road is open, with a sign stating that it's mud season, and to pass at your own risk. There is one washout on the road, high clearance vehicles shouldn't have an issue as long as you take it slow. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All crossings (except for the two Beebe River crossings on Guinea Pond Trail) were rock hoppable on wet or dry rocks.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Wentworth in good shape. Mead had sections of minor mud, and a small crown down in the trail. Black Mountain Pond had some muddy sections, many stepovers, and two crowns in the trail with herd paths forming. It was also brushy just below and in sections above the pond. Algonquin had a few stepovers, but was in good shape overall. Flat Mountain Pond and Guinea Pond alternated between muddy and dry sections. The reroute around the beaver meadow before the pond still isn't marked (as far as I could tell) when approaching from Flat Mountain Pond, it is blazed, but finding the start in a very muddy area with a dilapidated bog bridge floating among downed trees could be difficult. Guinea Pond spur not signed (the no snowmobiles sign is gone), but evident, it has muddy areas and is slightly obscure.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: They're out at lower elevations, and somewhat annoying.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: The forecast wasn't ideal today, but I figured I'd go for it anyway... and I ended up only getting rained on for 15 minutes! It was quite warm even without the sun, and I'm glad it wasn't out. Anyway, this is a figure-8 loop starting and ending at Mead Base, one that I cobbled together from two different hikes I've done in the past. Had great views from the summits and viewpoints, and welcome breezes to cool things down. Some avoidable ice on upper Black Mountain Pond Trail, icy sections on Algonquin (mostly north facing), ice patches on upper Bennett Street, and a surprising amount of spring snow and ice on upper Gleason. Bring light traction, even if it just comes for a ride. The abandoned section of Gleason was really easy to follow, and included some old blazing, though there were a ton of blowdowns, and some very muddy sections, along with deep leaf cover down low. A really great day on the ridges, and in the valleys!  
Name
Name: Bill Robichaud 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bill.robichaud@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-04-22 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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