Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Big Bickford Mountain, Scarface Mountain, NH |
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| Trails: |
Skookumchuck Trail, bushwhack |
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| Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 13, 2013 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plowed |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Spring Snow |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
One crossing (the first on the Skook Trail, but not Skook Brook), which was rock hoppable. There's also an old snowmobile bridge just upstream that can be used. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few moderate sized stepover blowdowns on the first section of the Skook. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
None |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
To start, the Skook had a fraction of an inch of sleet/snow on it from the previous day's storm. No problem barebooting.
At the first water crossing, we headed uphill and gradually worked our way to Big Bickford through open woods, following the drainage until we neared the ridge. The snowpack increased as we climbed, however the morning temperatures allowed us to bareboot much of the way up with no postholing. Things softened up as the morning progressed, resulting in us needing snowshoes upon reaching the ridge.
The summit of Big Bickford was somewhat open with a few feet of snowpack, however morning fog revealed little in views. It looks like there could be moderate views just southeast of the summit. We found the recognized summit, but the canister has been vandalized and is empty and only partially remaining.
We then backtracked toward the col and then headed up to Scarface in mixed, steeper woods. After finding the recognized highpoint, we headed to the western side of the summit and found a very nice, small view ledge looking into the notch.
From there, we descended into mixed, steep woods, eventually emptying into previously logged hardwoods. The snowpack decreased at this point, so the snowshoes came off. From there we headed back toward the brook and retraced our morning tracks. |
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| Name: |
rocket21 |
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| E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-04-13 |
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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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