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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Sandwich Dome, NH
Trails
Trails: Guinea Pond Trail, Black Mountain Pond Trail, Mary Cary Falls spur, Algonguin Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail, road walk
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I drove a 2010 Corolla to the parking area just beyond Guinea Pond, slowly, carefully and without any scraping. But I live way up on a dirt road, and I've driven and walked this road several times recently. That helps since there are a few spots where one can't see what lies on the other side of "ridge". My guess is most people won't want to drive it in a sedan; but a high clearance vehicle would be fine. Walking back from Algonguin there was one pretty nasty spot where the slope combined with a sand dominated surface produced large scoops in the road with, on a brief look, no good route through it without getting into those scoops. I wouldn't dare take my care up that; I'd be in low range 4WD if I had a high clearance truck. The road is one travel lane, so if you meet another vehicle someone has to find a way to pull off to allow the other to pass. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Minor drainages, easily crossed. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Guinea Pond was wet in places; but the notorious area flooded by beaver so badly the USFS created a bypass (the sign for it is still up), was doable in my Hokas with dry feet. Black Mountain Pond and Algonguin were in pretty good condition. Algonguin had a handful of significant blowdowns requiring walk arounds; I took the last in the series out but the others remain, a couple of which have been there for some time. These were between Sandwich Dome and the Black Mountain Pond trail on the ridge. There are a few spots on both of these trails where spruce-fir branches are in the trail corridor. All signs were in place. There aren't a lot of waterbars on these trails except for Algonguin's initial climb to some ledges. I gave a bunch of them a few scrapes with my poles tips to clear out some leaves and other debris. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Pepper had fun. There are sip n dips down low, and some minor drainages part way up Black Mountain Pond, but on the ridge there was only some small scattered meltwater. But today we were cool and comfy, so it wasn't an issue. There are a few scrambles on both trails that could pose a challenge for a dog, particularly a smaller one. Pepper is very experienced and handled them all better than I did, but even so I told him to wait until I could get in a position to spot him in case had problems. I think on the descent of a "Hillary step" on Algonguin, he got down first and then spotted me as I backclimbed. 
Bugs
Bugs: Amazingly, no black flies. I pulled one tick off Pepper but that could have come from our yard. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: It was a fantastic day for one of our favorite hikes. There was a spotty trace of snow on Sandwich Dome's dome; no ice anywhere. The two main trails were for the most part dry and easy to hike. I actually read my trail report from 2014 before going and it recommended going up Black Mountain Pond and down Algonguin, so I changed today's plan to match and it was the right way to do it. Black Mountain Pond is fairly steep and rocky so it is easier to ascend. But in addition, in its upper length, it's a series of short climbs to open ledges with increasing vistas, each seemingly better than the last. What a treat. Algonguin is just a fun ridge hike, with some good vistas too. We didn't see anyone all day, until the drive out when we passed a couple of vehicles. Thanks Pepper for getting me away from the computers and out onto the trails.  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-05-18 
Link
Link: https:// 
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