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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Oregon Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Carter-Gibbs Trail, Oregon Mountain Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 27, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking for a few cars on the side of the road opposite the Carter-Gibbs trailhead, as well as on the same side of the road as the trailhead, about 20 yards north of it (next to a logging landing area from a couple of years ago -- now cleared of slash, etc.). Trailhead is 0.5 miles up Hardy Country Road from its intersection with Sculptured Rocks Road, in Groton. Hardy Country Road is in decent shape, with just a few ruts here and there. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Water levels are high, and a couple of crossings, while not difficult, do require using some submerged rocks -- you'll get a wet boot or two. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trails are in very good shape. New blowdown on Carter-Gibbs Trail requires a short detour up a slippery cascade; see details, below. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Yes -- a bit of everything -- black flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. See details, below. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: The Carter-Gibbs Trail has been a favorite of ours for some time, and it just keeps getting better and better. Some relocations from a couple of years ago are bedding in nicely, and a couple of recent relocations, clean-up, and blowdown removal have improved it that much more (although, there's still one massive duck-under blowdown leaning on a small tree -- we scurry under it, asking, "do I feel lucky?").

It's also a way to access Oregon and Mowglis Mountains from the north, avoiding the busy-ness of the southern approach near the AMC Cardigan Lodge. The trail is well-marked, but one does need to pay attention.

And, the cascades on Dane Brook are finer than we've seen them in several years -- gorgeous, especially the mini flume near the top.

Some notes:

1. Carter-Gibbs Trail, heading south, just past the top of the Dane Brook cascades, where the trail crosses a small brook -- the branchy top of a large, new hardwood blowdown has blocked the trail, forcing one to detour across the brook at a cascade instead of crossing just above it. Care is needed here, some of the rocks are submerged, and many are slippery. Blowdown blockage needs only a bow saw, some loppers, and about a half hour's time.

2. Bugs, Part I. Some black flies and mosquitoes here and there, but not that many and certainly not as bad as they were at this elevation last week. The only time that they were an issue was on the Oregon Mountain summit, and even then, moving occasionally dealt with them fine.

3. Bugs, Part II. Ticks, ticks, ticks: they're there, if you want them. One of us wore permethrin-treated gaiters and some DEET and didn't see a single tick. Another of us didn't use anything, and found ~15 ticks on socks back at the car.

 
Name
Name: Pancks and Tesco Heaney 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-05-27 
Link
Link: https:// 
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