| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Baldpate - West Peak, Baldpate Mountain - East Peak, Long Mountain, Puzzle Mountain, Bald Mountain, Stowe Mountain, Sunday River Whitecap, Old Speck Mountain, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail, Grafton Loop Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, July 4, 2017 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
|
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Numerous water crossings of Wright Brook, all easy rock hops. FYI, a few would be difficult during times of high water. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail needs trimming in places between Lightening Ledge and Knoll Campsite. There are also a few blowdowns through here too, step over and go arounds |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Lots of water on the eastern side of the loop, western side didn't have that many pat Bald Mountain Campsite, except for at the other campsites. |
|
 | Bugs: |
vicious mosquitoes, especially at the Old Speck trailhead. Bugs were pretty nasty near the logged section below Long Mountain. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Celebrated Independence Day with a blast of a hike with Whitney, the Grafton Notch Loop. As mentioned above the eastern side of the loop has a few blowdowns, and hobblebush encroaching the trail too in a few spots, even so, the trail is easy to follow. There is a section where the trail heads through open woods with a clear-cut to the left of the trail (if going clockwise, heading south), just pay attention to the trail through here as we walked into the clear-cut and ended off trail for a hundred feet or so.
When starting the western section pay attention to the marked signs along the snowmobile trail and you'll have no issues following the trail until it heads back into the woods. Foot way is lightly traveled down low through open woods until Bald Mountain Campsite so pay attention to the blue blazes, once past the campsite the woods close in and trail is easy to follow.
Beautiful hike, the loop trail is great and the footing is spectacular. Views from Sunday River Whitecap are some of the best around, what an awesome summit, what an awesome hike. :) |
|
 | Name: |
Chris and Tip-Toe |
|
 | E-Mail: |
cdailey@hpearce.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2017-07-06 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://dailey7779.blogspot.com/2017/07/grafton-notch-loop.html |
|
|
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. |
|
