| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Flat Mountain Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bennett Street Trail, Guinea Pond Trail, Flat Mountain Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 2, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at the Bennett Street Trail trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water crossings were not an issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are in decent shape, overall. Guinea Pond Trail and Bennett Street Trail need water bars cleaned out (we got to see some of this firsthand when the storms hit). Flat Mountain Pond could use some brushing in some spots -- beech tree saplings and hobblebush. There is also an old, very large, climb-over blowdown blocking the trail on the Flat Mountain Pond Trail in between the intersections with the Gleason and Bennett Street Trails. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Water, water, everywhere -- numerous stream crossings for water. |
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 | Bugs: |
Bugs were not a problem until reaching Flat Mountain Pond. After that, black flies and deer flies were only an issue when not moving. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We did a partial loop by taking the Bennett Street Trail to the Guinea Pond Trail to the Flat Mountain Pond Trail to the pond, and then the Bennett Street Trail back to the car.
Once at Flat Mountain Pond, we had lunch at the shelter before venturing about a half mile along the pond, where the trail heads into the Sandwich Wilderness (and the trail becomes much more wilderness-y) -- turning back only because we were running out of time and the line of severe storms was heading in. (The skies completely darkened while we were on the Bennett Street Trail headed back -- almost needed a headlamp in the middle of the softwood forest, it became so dark. And, the clouds opened when we had a mile left to get to the car and the rain stopped, naturally, when we reached the car.)
Flat Mountain Pond is a gem -- secluded and framed by Flat Mountain (Waterville Valley) to the north and Flat Mountain (Sandwich) to the south.
Equally impressive were the series of cascades and waterfalls along the Bennett Street Trail on the return; certainly worth a return trip (or two or three). |
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-06-03 |
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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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