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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks The Horn, The Bulge, Mt. Mary, Pilot Range (Middle Peak), Pilot Range (West Peak), Hutchins Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, bushwhacks, unnamed trail, Mill Brook Road
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 19, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked near Unknown Pond Trail (north) trailhead. Mill Brook open (no gate) and dry. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: On Unknown Pond Trail (north), minor. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: We took out a few blowdowns on Kilkenny Ridge, but a few remain, up to about 8" in diameter. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: A few black flies down low, but generally no bugs. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We freestyled this one as we went, making a parking area decision to ascend via the trails. Unknown Pond Trail north was generally dry, except for the normally wet areas down low. Kilkenny Ridge Trail was also generally dry, though there were a few tiny patches of snow (not enough for more than a few snowballs). Nice views from the Horn.

After reaching the Bulge summit, we backtracked maybe 100 feet and headed into the woods, generally staying on the height of land toward Mt. Mary (Pilot East). The woods were generally open, with the exception of some avoidable blowdown. Many moose paths.

Just before Mary, we hit the private trail which led up to the summit and toward the col (good directional views in this vicinity). We followed this for awhile longer, then headed up to Middle Pilot in generally open woods.

We then continued along the ridge, still in decent woods, to West Pilot. Soon thereafter, the going was less than optimal. We used an old logging road and a herd path on the west side briefly, but then climbed back up to the height of land as to not lose more vertical. Some patches of thick spruce and blowdown and then some patches of open woods. A little bit of a cliff band to navigate prior to Hutchins proper. Decent directional view northeast from near the recognized summit.

Not wanting to go through that junk again, we dropped into the drainage to the north of the peak and had generally open woods for awhile. We then hit really tall hobblebush, which left us covered in pollen. We sometimes had a nice moose herdpath near the brooks and other times nothing. We popped out at the clearcut at the end of Mill Brook Road, just as the rain started. Nice view back at the ridge from this clearing.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-05-19 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/thehorn-2013-0519.php 
Bookmark and Share 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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