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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks South Baldface, North Baldface, NH
Trails
Trails: Slippery Brook Trail, Baldface Knob Trail, Baldface Circle Trail, Bicknell Ridge Trail, Eagle Cascade Link
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 28, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking in the lot was fine, especially for a holiday weekend. Flies were bad when we pulled in around 4:30pm on Saturday night, but not bad when we got out mid-afternoon on Sunday. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Crossing at the bottom of North Baldface just before the junction is tricky-- we bushwacked down to Emerald Pool and crossed there. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: One big blowdown on Eagle Cascade Link. Managed to get around it, but it wasn't an easy walk-around. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any dogs today. 
Bugs
Bugs: BRING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE FOR PROTECTION. Maybe also a blowtorch. I'm just kidding about the blowtorch. Kind of. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: There was a scarf on a rock in the middle of the trail on the last .7 miles on the way out. Left it, as it seemed someone would be back. 
 
Comments
Comments: What a gorgeous hike! Hiked into Slippery Brook on Saturday night, and camped out off trail about a mile/ mile and a half in. The flies were out and biting a bit, but it was not unbearable. Hiked up to the summits on Sunday- Lots and lots of moose poop and tracks. We definitely were near one at some point approaching the top of Slippery Brook, but never saw him.

The hike from Baldface Knob all the way across the two Baldfaces was INCREDIBLE. Steep and difficult in places, especially approaching North, but wow, what a reward. Will definitely hit these summits again.

Headed down Bicknell, another gorgeous part of the hike. Kept popping out to see views of what we hiked, and the gorgeous rocky features of South Baldface. Once we hit Eagle Cascade Link, the horror began- the black flies and mosquitos were absolutely unbearable. Eagle Cascade is well worth taking this trail, especially for no extra mileage, but wait a few weeks until the flies are gone. I am not kidding when I say it was the worst I've ever experienced. The trail is wet and muddy, and follows the river the whole way. We ran through ankle deep mud and over very slick rocks just trying to outrun the flies, to no avail. Once you cross the river at the junction, the flies let up and the trail dries out. Just for good measure, I checked myself out after our hike, and I had 25 bites through my shorts, and even more on exposed skin.

Glad we did it because this really is one of my new favorite loops, and we'll return again, but probably mid/end of summer.  
Name
Name: Christine 
E-Mail
E-Mail: cacauchon@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-06-01 
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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