| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Little Sugarloaf, Sugarloaf, Goose Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Elwell Trail, White Trail, Green Trail (snowmobile trail) Goose Pond Loop, Orange Trail, snowmobile trail, bushwack (old Elwell Trail) |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, December 18, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings were not an issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are in fine shape. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Conditions have changed a bit since our last trip on these trails, earlier this week: a few more inches of snow has fallen; daytime temperatures have risen -- causing some sun-exposed sections of what was once powder to become crusty and thin; any of the trails that also double as snowmobile trails have now been groomed and have a thick snow crust on top.
We parked at Wellington State Park and walked directly across West Shore Road to the snowmobile trail -- the old Elwell Trail, prior to the construction of the current parking area and the trail's re-routing in the early 1970s (the 40-plus-year-old blazes have faded but are still quite visible).
From there, we followed the Elwell Trail up both Sugarloaves, and descended down the White Trail (formally the old carriage road) with its two feet of fine powder, to the Green Trail (now groomed for snowmobiles), to the Orange Trail (groomed for snowmobiles on some sections), and to the Goose Pond Loop.
We did the loop again today, before heading back to the Elwell Trail via a short section of Orange Trail. Goose Pond is spectacular right now -- pristine, snow-covered. This won't last long, once the ice firms enough to use the pond as a snowmobile route.
On top of Sugarloaf, we noticed a single set of snowshoe tracks headed up from the north (old Hebron Turnpike/Bear Mountain Road). |
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-12-19 |
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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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