| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Heald Pond, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Jeff Smith Trail, Gold Trail, cart path, Red Trail, Heald Street |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, December 26, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked on Jewett Street which is dirt where the trailhead is but residential and so should always be plowed. Enough room to pull off right now but with a lot more snow I don’t know if that would remain the case or not. I was picked up on the northern end on Lawrence St (paved). Chestnut St is also dirt. There were tracks on it but I’m not sure it gets plowed or if it would be a good place to park if hiking the trail in sections. Oak Hill St is paved. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Stewart Brook at the northern end that the guidebook said could be a wade didn’t give me any issues. I think it was iced over but I think water is low regardless. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I believe there were a handful of mostly minor blowdowns. Trails are blazed but blazing is confusing. What the guidebook refers to as the Red Trail is often or always marked as the “T.O.P.” trail (no idea what that stands for) but there were other red markings on other paths such as the cart path. I think Jeff Smith Trail was usually marked with blue. Things were a but difficult to follow with snow on the ground and not a terribly distinct trail corridor. There were some trails sings at important places but I think some additional once’s could be used. There was also at least one point at which there was a fork, one of which led to behind a house/private property, and there was nothing to indicate which way to go… |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trails for dogs. The conservation areas probably require them to be leashed. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
First hike of the day. I traversed the sections of Jeff Smith Trail needed for redlining from south to north. There were a number of spurs I needed along the way as well. First was Gold Trail which the guidebook says was at 0.8mi (I think it’s less). I think the trail is signed as the T.O.P. Trail. According to the online maps (see link below) it ends where Centrail Trail (unsigned) meets it perpendicularly. This section of trail is largely cut into a hill. Though not terribly steep, it could unnerve some people, especially with the snow. Next was the mess of trails between Heald St and Chestnut St. I crossed the road directly where there was a pullout and this is where the cart path is. It became difficult to follow (look for red blazes; oddly there seemed to be some others mixed in as well). Where it linked back up with Jeff Smith Trail, I followed that north to where Red Trail looped back to the south. My plan was to follow this back to Heald St, then take Jeff Smith Trail proper back up but there was a mess of confusing jcts and trails in here that weren’t all on Gaia so spent some time going to and fro. Please don’t hesitate to ask for my track if it would be helpful. I can say that, according to the map and what it seems needs to be done for redlining, bear right at a right at a jct and don’t follow (the red blazed; confusing right since you’re supposedly following the red loop!) the trail that continues south to the road. This is where I found another path forking left that lead into someone’s yard. Oops! The other confusing piece was that Jeff Slith Trail coincided with this red loop very briefly although there was a path that paralleled the cart path and which was much more direct.
Anyway, from there I followed Jeff Smith Trail across Heald St and then to Lawrence St, doing a much simpler OAB along the red trail (again, signed as T.O.P.) 0.3mi from Lawrence St. This is shown on Gaia as a road. I had spikes with me but did not think of using them though things were a bit slippery due to the snow but I don’t think spikes would’ve helped. Things are likely a bit different now anyway but at the time, the trail was more or less covered with a little bit of snow. As the guidebook indicates, while there is very little elevation gain overall? There are some steep pitches and places where hikers with mobility issues may have trouble. Gaia had me at 7.25mi, 225ft of gain (400ft of going the other direction), 2hr54min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-28 |
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 | Link: |
 https://ma-pepperell.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/3208/Pepperell-Trail-Guide?bidId= |
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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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