NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Kearsarge North Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Kearsarge North Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 7, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Small lot, but no issues with access. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No major river crossings on the trail. That was lucky, because the stream that the trail parallels in the lower section looked quite high. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Water bars will definitely need repair. No major blowdowns. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Saw a few. The slippery rock slabs seemed to be easier for them than for humans. 
Bugs
Bugs: Very few. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: A pair of sunglasses on a tree at the trailhead. 
 
Comments
Comments: What a great hike! Although there were some threatening clouds on the way up, there was no rain.

The gentle section at the bottom was mostly dry. The sidehill section right after that was a little wet, but nothing excessive. That would wait until further up. Once we started following the ridgeline up, the first few tenths were still mostly dry and fine, but once we got to the exposed sloping rock slabs, the real fun began. Those slabs were very wet and slippery in places, and care had to be taken to walk up them. The section of trail above those slabs up to the summit was extremely wet, with lots of puddles, wet roots, and slippery rocks. There was a little bit of ice remaining in places, but it wasn't an issue except for the crossing of a small ravine, which still had snow and ice in it. That's the only place on the trail where anyone would need spikes (though we were still able to do that part without them).

The summit was gorgeous - beautiful views, not too windy. The clouds hovered at around 5000 feet, so we couldn't see Washington, but we could see most of the other mountains. The fire tower is in excellent condition.

Going down, some of the sloping rock slabs were treacherous (definitely the kind of place where it's easier to go up than down). But once we got below those, there were no issues.  
Name
Name: GN 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-05-07 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved