| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Meader, Eagle Crag, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mount Meader Trail, Meader Ridge Trail, Baldface Circle Trail, Bicknell Ridge Trail, Baldface Circle Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 1, 2010 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow - Drifts, Mud, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Slush, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Three crossings that present challenges - 1. On the Meader Ridge trail one crossing of a small stream that is challenging because it is still largely snow covered (slush) and you punch through to water. 2. at the junction of Bicknell Ridge and Baldface Circle Trail- crossing is running high- at the crossing the rocks you would take were mostly under water If you head about 10 yards upstream from the crossing there is a place that you can fairly easily cross on rocks (poles were helpful for balance) 3. The main crossing of Charles Brook on the Baldface Circle Trail right before Circle Junction. The brook is running high and the rocks at the crossing you might hop were mostly under water or wet and slick. I looked up and down from the crossing and didn't see anything that looked like I wasn't getting wet. Knowing I was only .7 miles from the trail head I finally just bit the bullet and forded the brook about 50 yards down from the crossing where the water was only 6-8 inches deep and I could hop on rocks after the main channel. Had soaked boots and feet but the wool socks worked well (too tired to get the garbage bags out of the pack!)! Assuming the level doesn't go down one possibility is to wack down the side of the brook and at the second northern bend head just a bit north to intercept a road that will take you out to 113 maybe 1/4 mile from the parking lot |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I did clear out a few of the smaller blowdowns along the way that I could do without having a saw. Mount Meader trail - a few on the logging road and a few once you hit the steeps. All fairly large requiring saw. Meader Ridge Trail - an absolute mess - lost count of the large blowdowns from the stretch after the view point almost to Eagle Crag. This will take some serious work to clear. You can navigate around all but some are inconveniently placed so you have to pay attention to pick up the trail after bypassing. A few on the Bicknell Ridge trail easily hopped over but will require a saw. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not sure about the snow on the Meader Ridge trail - may be a bit challenging since in spots they will sink with each step. |
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 | Bugs: |
Black flies and misc. smaller bugs swarming at the trail head and coming down Bicknell Ridge. Bug spray seem to keep them at bay. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Did a loop over Mount Meader to Eagle Crag and down Bicknell Ridge. This hike had a bit of everything in terms of trail conditions! As Rocket21 reported the stretch up to the viewpoint on Mount Meader was largley dry with a few wet spots. Beyond this on the Meader Ridge trail was another story. Trail was mainly snow covered and when you got a stretch without snow it was mainly either running water, pooled water, or mud. Today a very frustrating stretch - there were stretches especially in the Cols where the snow was still 3-4 feet deep. I was barebooting and there were times that I sank into the slushy snow above my knees. But about the time I thought about putting on my snowshoes, I'd hit stretch of trail without snow or just some slush a few inches deep - only to hit another stretch of snow where I was postholing a couple of feet. There were a few points in the Cols where I was postholing down several feet only to find my feet in also in six+ inches of water. This and all the time having to find my way around the myriad of serious blowdowns. Fortunately there was one person who had been on the trail before me- it looked like maybe a day or two before since the tracks were melted out (they eventually did switch to snowshoes) so I could follow the trail with reasonable ease. Given the depth - the snow in the Cols will likely take a lengthy period of warm weather to melt. Once I hit Eagle Crag I really appreciated the ledges from their to the junction of the Bicknell Rigdge trail though there are a few places where you have to plow through 3 foot drifts and a number of places where there is fairly deep standing water. Down the Bicknell Ridge trail you have to go through some slushy snow right at the top but after this it's smooth sailing all the way down - well until you have to deal with the 2 stream crossings. Blazings were sporadic on the Mount Meader trail and I don't actually recall seeing a blaze on the Meader Ridge trail. A challenging hike but I would do it again! |
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 | Name: |
Brian from Maine |
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 | E-Mail: |
brobert1@maine.rr.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2010-05-02 |
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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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