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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Eagle Crag, NH
Trails
Trails: Baldface Circle Trail, Meader Ridge Trail, Bicknell Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 5, 2011
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: 2 other cars in the lot on my arrival, more than a dozen on my return. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Small Patches, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The first crossing of Charles Brook was somewhat hairy, but I found a decent place to cross about 20 yards upstream. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: 3 blowdowns noted, one a minor step-over, one a 20-24 inch climb-over, and a 8-10 inch duck under, all on Baldface Circle Trail above the Bicknell Ridge Trail junction. Baldface Circle Trail also very wet above this junction. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: After a two month hiatus, due to a nagging knee injury, and moving, I finally was able to get into the mountains. My intent was to try the Baldface loop counter-clockwise, because I saw that there was snow clinging to the steeps on South Baldface as I drove in, and there was a convenient bailout via Bicknell Ridge Trail if I didn't feel like pushing it.

The ascent up to the ridge went pretty well, no knee pain, but some ice on the ledges below the junction slowed me up a bit, and I donned the microspikes. There were trace amounts of snow above 2000 feet, and 1-2 inch drifts just below the ridge. On the ridge itself, there were 8-10 inch drifts in spots, but no continuous cover. The views from Eagle Crag were pretty impressive, though I've heard the Baldfaces are better, but another time. Made my way over to the Bicknell Ridge Trail, though my knee was cooperating, I just didn't have the energy to continue on through the whole loop. Bicknell Ridge Trail was in great shape, a couple spots could use a cairn or two to mark the way on the ledges, but overall it made for a quick and easy descent.

Started at 7:45, back to the car at noon. 8.1 miles, ~2500 ft of gain. Good show for my first re-training hike!  
Name
Name: Bill Robichaud 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bill.robichaud@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2011-11-05 
Link
Link: https:// 
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