| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Jug End, Mt. Bushnell, Mt. Everett, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail, Glen Brook Shelter Spur, The Hemlocks Lean-To Spur, Mt. Everett Shelter Spur, Race Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, April 4, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
As the guidebook says, there's room for one or two cars (maybe more actually) on Jug End Rd. Before parking there, we spotted a car on Rt 41 at the Undermountain Trail which was a small dirt lot with room for several cars but we cut the hike short and came down Race Brook Trail instead. The lot at the base of this was basically a large paved pulloff with room for maybe a dozen cars. The lot was mostly full around 4:30-5pm. The other trailheads were empty or ust had one other car at them around this time and when we dropped them/started around 9:45am. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Everything was readily rock hopable even for those with short legs but those not used to hiking but have had a little trouble with the ones along Race Brook. Could get difficult at real high water. Everything else was pretty easy. Even though snow was not too recently melted and the trails relatively dry, you could tell water was a bit elevated from recent rains. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Race Brook Trail is blazed in blue while the AT is blazed in white. I think the spur trails, at least to Glen Brook Lean-To, was blazed in blue (faded and could use a fresh coat) as well. I don't really recall frequency but I think it was semi-often. Main trails were pretty easy follow. Small blowdown between Jug End and Bushnell I think, a big blowdown along one of the water crossings of Race Brook that I think obscured where the trail was. I believe there were some others as well but I don't recall where or anything. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Hiking dogs should be able to handle all parts of this hike. Others could struggle |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Nice birthday hike with Lil Young and my folks for the first very small section. We traversed the AT from north to south, ascending from Jug End Rd, hiking over Jug End, Mt. Bushnell, and Mt Everett, then descending Race Brook Trail though the plan had been to the entirety of Section 1 in the guidebook and go down Undermountain Trail. I hiked the spur trails to Glen Brook Lean-To, The Hemlocks Lean-To, and Mount Everett Shelter. I walked right by the latter as I don't think it's signed. It's a short, flat walk along a road to a field and the shelter. Views abound! The path to Glen Brook Lean-To was blazed but very faded and hard to follow. Part of the issue was that the woods were just so open and there's signs of humans everywhere so the true trail is not terribly distinguishable. I think parts of Race Brook Trail were similar but overall is not at all hard to follow.
Despite recent rain, the trails were pretty dry even if water crossings were a bit elevated. I don't recall ground conditions well at all, sorry but I assume there had to be at least a bit of mud though I don't remember much. Some nice views along the ridgeline and Race Brook was obviously scenic. Gaia had us at 9.2mi, 2150ft of gain. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney and Lil Young |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-04-09 |
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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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