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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Cabot, The Bulge, The Horn, NH
Trails
Trails: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, Unknown Pond Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, May 11, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of room at the Unknown Pond and York Pond trailheads today. I was the only car. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All were easy if you were willing to step in an inch of water. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Bunnell Notch and Kilkenney Ridge Tr south of Mt Cabot are in descent shape. North of Cabot there are several blowdowns blocking and obscuring the trail. Not many blazes either and the remaining ones are mostly faint or the bark is peeling off. Unknown Pond Tr was brushy and muddy. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Overall easy hike for Marlie. Lots of water and snow to sip and dip. She was posholing in some areas as the snow softened. She she scrambled up The Horn like a champ.  
Bugs
Bugs: None yet. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Bits and pieces of trash and traction devices plus an empty handle of Tito's vodka. 
 
Comments
Comments: The hike up to Cabot Cabin was pretty straight forward. There was some monorail in Bunnell notch and then again just below Bunnell Rock. A short distance above Bunnell Rock the monorail was wide enough that microspikes worked well. The ground was bare around the cabin but after the old firetower site it increased up to 3 feet in spots. The summit sign area of Cabot was snow free. Heading north the snow depth increased up to 3 feet again and I lost the trail several times but found it again just before the col. Snowshoes were very helpful here and other than the final stretch up The Bulge and the last .1 mi to the top of The Horn I used them until about .5 mi north of The Horn Spur. Then it was back to microspikes for a short distance before going back to bareboots. There were still a few deep pockets of snow but it's easier to just trudge through. With multiple blowdowns and a lightly used trail care had to be taken to stay on course. Once on the Unknown Pond Tr the snow disappeared for good and it was a pleasant walk out. We did not see another person all day!

11.1 mi. 3350' elev+
 
Name
Name: IQuest 
E-Mail
E-Mail: iandanner@hotmail com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-05-12 
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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