Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Watatic, Nutting Hill, Binney Pond, Pratt Mountain, Stony Top, MA |
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| Trails: |
Wapack Trail, Frank Robbins Trail, State Line Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At the Mt. Watatic trailhead off MA 119 in Ashburnham. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trails in the vicinity of Watatic are succumbing to severe erosion and very wide trail creep due to heavy use; they seem much worse than when I was last here. On the flip side, some improvements have been made. Major junctions are better signed, the bog bridges at the start of the trail got an upgrade, and the climb up Watatic has some new-ish looking rock staircases down lower. Frank Robbins Trail, which follows old logging roads, was brushy but not difficult to follow. |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
(Note to admins: Most of this hike was in NH but since I started and finished in MA, that's how I'm filing it. Feel free to change if needed.)
A multi-state hike today along the southern Wapack Trail from the Mt. Watatic trailhead in Ashburnham, MA to Stony Top in New Ipswich, NH. Watatic is an old go-to hike from when I was living in central MA and its was nice to revisit.
This route was a mixed bag of conditions today with dry trail, wet trail, copious mud, leaves, puddles, running water, and some black ice in ledgy areas. No snow at all. Frank Robbins trail had two flooded areas that involved getting boots wet.
The sun gave me some teases early in the morning by hiding behind the clouds but eventually came out for good, making the views great at all of the various outlooks. A very quiet day; only saw three people. |
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| Name: |
KenM |
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| E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-12 |
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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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