| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Sandwich Dome, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Guinea Pond Trail, Black Mountain Pond Trail, Mary Cary Falls Spur, Algonquin Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail, Bennett Street Trail, Flat Mountain Pond Trail, Guinea Pond side trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, November 21, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at hiker lot on FR 400, just off of Sandwich Notch Road, across the bridge from Guinea Pond trailhead (if coming from the Sandwich side). The two ladies I met late in the day said they were told that Sandwich Notch Road was closed... by the Forest Service! I drove from end to end today with no issues. Some icy spots, but easily avoidable. The road is its usual rough self. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Two of the crossings on the upper section of Guinea Pond Trail posed some issues. I noticed a lightly worn herd path that looked to bypass both crossings. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Had the most trouble with Guinea Pond Trail. The section with the snowmachine bridge was flooded, and I bushwhacked over to the power lines, and followed some faint herd paths around the flooding. If the ground hadn't been partially frozen, it would have been messy. The other section is where the rail grade just disappears into a beaver swamp (on the northern section, coming from the north), I had trouble finding where the trail goes from this obvious impasse, though after a while of searching, I found it. Black Mountain Pond Trail wasn't bad to follow, but was slightly brushy in its upper section. Algonquin in good shape, some brushy areas, and some obscure turns. Bennett Street in good shape throughout. Guinea Pond Spur not marked, but the turn off is hard to miss, though the trail itself is difficult to follow at best. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
What a gorgeous day to knock out some more redlines, and consequently, get to the halfway point. Some beautiful sections of trail, especially Black Mountain Pond Trail and Bennett Street Trail. Guinea Pond Trail was vexing at times, with some significant mud, sketchy crossings, and the trail disappearing into beaver swamps (twice), requiring some route finding/bushwhacking. All in all, a fantastic day out, and here's to having less than 720 miles to go! |
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 | Name: |
Bill Robichaud |
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 | E-Mail: |
bill.robichaud@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-11-21 |
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 | Link: |
 https://onapathwithheart.blogspot.com/ |
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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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