| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Whaleback Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Old Osseo Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, July 11, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Limited parking is available in the visitor spots along the broad curve on Clearbrook Rd. Look for the four boulders. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Both major crossings of Clear Brook were a tad high, and took some care to not get the boots wet early on. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trail is in great shape since being abandoned in 1983. I met a couple walking their dog on the trail and they told me that the trail was being maintained by two men who had permission to clear the land. One has since moved and the other has died, so I'm assuming it's other residents who are doing it now. I saw recent evidence of blowdown clearing. The route is marked with yellow blazes, more infrequent and faded down below and more frequent and clearer higher up. There are a few brushy sections where the trail must be followed with care. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs would be fine on this, although small dogs might have to be lifted up a few eroded sections near the summit. Water down below, but nothing higher up. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not many at all. I heard buzzing around my head, but nothing was biting, and there was little wind. Is it over? ;) |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing and nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
This has been on my to-do list for a long time, and I finally hiked it Friday, increasing my interest of abandoned trails in the Whites. The lower portion cruises along pretty flat for a while until after the second crossing of Clear Brook, then begins an unrelenting steep uphill grind to the ridge. Some mud patches down lower (including one wet stretch with several streams running across it), drier trail higher up. A few eroded sections approaching the summit. No real expansive views to speak of, but the peak does offers limited views from various viewpoints. Summit area is a small flat clearing with one directional view. This seems like a peak that should have a homemade sign or a canister, but it has neither. ;) The trail looked to be in good shape continuing towards Flume, but I did not venture beyond the summit. I will come back another day for that. See link below for photos and description of the route in the captions. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-07-13 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.flickr.com/gp/kmacgray/Mp0Yh0/ |
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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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