Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Sugarloaf, NH |
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| Trails: |
Sugarloaf Mountain Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Monday, September 21, 2015 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The trailhead is on Nash Stream Road, about 8 miles in from Emerson Road, which is off Rt. 100 in Groveton. The trail starts in the driveway of a private cabin (thanks to the Baileys for allowing access). Park along the road, making sure to not block the driveway. Contrary to what the WMG says, there is an old, small sign here for "Sugarloaf Mountain Trail", nailed to a tree to the left of the driveway. However, I can see how it would be very easy to miss. The first part of the trail also follows the Cohos Trail, which is marked at the driveway. Nash Stream Road is a graded dirt road, passable by regular cars at slow speed. A crew was re-grading the road on this day, which actually made it worse due to the freshly churned-up rocks. : / |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
No problems. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Two blowdowns along the SMT, one waist high that involves scooting around the side. Some erosion after the logging road junction a little ways in. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs. Some water down low, and at the spring near the collapsed cabin. |
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| Bugs: |
Nope. |
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| Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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| Comments: |
A stunning day for this peak and its open summit ledges. The SMT is an unrelenting up, heading straight up the side of the ridge along the former fire warden's road. No switchbacks here and stretches are quite steep. Not much to see until you reach a clearing, the site of an old cabin, whose burned remains are still there. To the left of this cabin is a small flowing spring. After the clearing, the SMT passes through a brushy section before opening up to a road again, with more up. ;) Eventually it reaches the ridge, and meanders at easy grades along the narrow crest to the open summit ledges. You have to move around a bit to see everything, and views are obscured to the west. But the other ledges more than make up for it, with expansive vistas into the Whites, Maine, Vermont, the Adirondacks and Quebec. The summit sign post is broken, and the slats of the sign themselves are aren't attached. The whole thing is kinda held together by where it's lying. I spent an hour on top taking in the views, then retraced my steps back down to the car. |
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| Name: |
KenM |
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| E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-09-22 |
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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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