| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Sandwich Dome, Jennings Peak, Noon Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Drakes Brook Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail, Jennings Peak Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, July 4, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Well signed, and (surprisingly, since it was after all the Fourth of July) not too crowded. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossing Drakes Brook was difficult. On the way up, I looked at the SMT crossing, didn't like it, and decided to take the Drakes Brook Trail up. At the Drakes Brook Trail crossing, I had to bushwhack upstream a little bit to find a (relatively) safe crossing. I took the SMT down, and at the Drakes Brook crossing at the end decided to just get my feet wet, since the trailhead was so close. Was able to wade across fairly easily without getting too worried about the current (which was strong). All other brook crossings on the Drakes Brook Trail were no problem. There pretty much aren't any other river crossings on the SMT, since it goes along a ridge. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Drakes Brook Trail was totally unblazed (not sure if this is intentional), but easy to follow. One section of it (a few dozen yards long) right next to the brook has been washed out, so I had to walk on rocks in the brook for that (it wasn't difficult though). Both trails had some wet and muddy spots. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one well-behaved dog. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not an issue if you keep moving. Accordingly, they only annoyed me at the summit of Sandwich Dome, when I was eating lunch. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nada. |
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 | Comments: |
Amazing hike! Surprisingly uncrowded considering the date. Only saw two other hikers on Drakes Brook Trail, and only about a dozen or so on the entire rest of the hike. Maybe it's a good thing that Sandwich Dome is just under 4,000 feet. Beautiful views from both Jennings Peak and Sandwich Dome. Was warned by a few hikers that the SMT was steep, but I didn't find descending it to be particularly difficult. The water crossings were much more difficult.
8.7 miles round-trip, just under 6 hours. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-07-04 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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