| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Sunapee, Lovewell Mountain, Pitcher Mountain, Mt. Monadnock, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Ski trails, Monadnock Sunapee Greenway Trail, spur paths |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 9, 2017 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I arranged for long term parking with Sunapee Resort. A tree and power line was down on Old Troy Road due to the Saturday storm, blocking vehicle access to and from the Dublin Trail lot when I finished. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
By and large the MSGT is in fantastic shape. There are a handful of felled trees along the way, the most significant of which is a gnarly one just south of Kitteridge Hill. Others are simple step overs. A few stretches are brushy but it's obvious there is not a whole lot of foot traffic in these areas. The ski trails @ Sunapee are thick also. The entire trail is well blazed and signed. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see a single one on the trail. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Lack of wind made bugs a challenge on the trail and in camp. The bug net was a constant on/off routine. When off black flies seemed to find my eyeballs often. Mosquitoes were tough also and I was serenaded by the skeeter symphony a couple of nights. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
NOTE: this was a four day trip on the entire MSGT starting July 5 and ending July 8.
July 5: Sunapee --> George Washington shelter
Hiked up ski trails (high, thick and wet but at least I got to see a few deer) to North Peak and onto the summit, two others on top when I arrived. "Started" the hike heading S onto Sunapee Ridge and it's various viewpoints to Lucia's Lookout. One easy felled tree to get over about mid-way down the ridge. Down through Pillsbury State Park up and over Lovewell Mountain where I passed two folks also heading up and two others coming up the south side. The summit viewpoint here seems to be grown in much more then my last visit. The nicest day of the four weather-wise.
July 6: ---> Crider Shelter
Though mostly overcast this was a very fun section: I already knew about Pitcher Mountain but Jackson Hill and Hubbard Hill were nice surprises. Blueberries on Hubbard and Pitcher are starting to pop but it will be a little bit more time before green turns blue. I encountered my only other MSGT hiker in four days - a NOBO - just south of Pitcher. The area around Crider Shelter has been harvested (last fall) and is very open but with a nice view of Dakin Hill. A full moon (or close to it) made for a fantastic scene at night. The trail proper that was apparently subject to flooding around Barney Brook is now a full on logging road so flooding is no longer an issue.
July 7 ---> Splitor Shelter
It rained from the time I left Crider to the time I arrived at Splitor - of course as soon as I finished the sun came out. Lots of boggy areas and road walks on this section. Just N of Nelson Center I noticed a big 'bee' sign on Log Cabin Road so being curious I checked it out. Turns out this is a conservation area managed by the Harris Center (Skatutakee & Thumb) with a path that leads to and around White's Pond: very scenic and complete with a picnic/viewing bench. Since it was raining I had lunch under the overhang in back of the Nelson Library instead :) One big blowdown a bit N of Route 9 and another about 1.5 miles S.
July 8: ---> Mt. Monadnock
I managed to get a signal at the Route 101 crossing to check the weather: T-storms predicted between 1 and 3. Since it was only 8 AM Ma Nature was gracious enough to let me finish. Got to the summit @ 10:45 and headed back down the same way (Dublin Trail) at 11:30 giving myself plenty of time to at least get below the trees if T-storms came...and come they did when I was 2/3 the way out. Even with thunder starting around noon and darkening skies soon after people were STILL going up! A couple of birches down a short way S of the 101 crossing.
I had been wanting to hike this trail for years and the planets finally aligned for me to do it. This was a fantastic trek through varied terrain and trail types. I was shocked to have met only the one other hiker in four days...not to mention having all three shelters to myself. Thanks SO much to the MSGTC, volunteers and landowners for allowing my to enjoy this excellent trail!
|
|
 | Name: |
HMJ |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2017-07-09 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
