Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Little Sugarloaf, Big Sugarloaf, Goose Pond, NH |
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| Trails: |
Elwell Trail, White Trail, Goose Pond Trail, Goose Pond Loop Link, Around The Pond Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At the large Elwell Trail parking area off West Shore Road. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
One small stream crossing on WT, easily hopped. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No major damage from the storm noted. One large blowdown across the ET at the northern junction of the Rest Area Loop which needs a chainsaw. This is not a new blowdown, it looks like it's been there for a long time. It requires a crawl under or a bushwhack around. Just after this is a smaller stepover which has been limbed and flagged as a tripping hazard. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure. |
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| Bugs: |
Nope. |
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| Lost and Found: |
One small water bottle which still had ice cubes in it. I left it at the parking lot kiosk. |
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| Comments: |
ET was mostly dry up to the loaves. Nice new bog bridges near a wet area at the start. This section of the trail was "ambitiously" blazed by the kids at Camp Mowglis several years ago. There should be no problem following it. ;) Nice views out over Newfound Lake from the ledges.
As described in previous reports, the map for this area does not indicate the WT correctly. It leaves near the summit of Big Sugarloaf, and descends along an eroded old road to the Blue Trail, then swings off it again. After this turn, the route is along a wet and mucky logging road with standing water and mud. One stretch has very deep ruts from vehicular traffic at one time.
Easy walking around the pond. The outlet brook is crossed on a sturdy piece of lumber. I startled a few turkeys near here. No worries, fellas. I'm not going to shoot you.
A quiet afternoon, I only saw two other people. I'd recommend bringing the trail map (linked below) and refer to it as you go. Things are well signed in the Elwell corridor, but there are a few unmarked bypass loops and other side paths along the way which could be confusing. Near the pond, signage at junctions is non-existent, but trails are blazed clearly.
doc-08-7o-docs.googleusercontent.com/docs/securesc/s7rn7gfgivetev3i4cid0aqhoqn28du8/d4lv4ht3tnn8vug5e65p8e9thtlm1t1s/1510084800000/03574596997617034580/09089073481683872920/0B3ZgrJ7Tv9sZX1pGV2ZIcE10aVE?e=download&nonce=24v3jcdr8ubq4&user=09089073481683872920&hash=et05kski224ksnpetkfgqkipcrsdeq3g |
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| Name: |
KenM |
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| E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-11-07 |
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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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