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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Smarts Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Daniel Doan Trail, Ranger Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, February 26, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Large lot on Lyme-Dorchester Road for the SMRTr though is was an ice pond today so we parked at the edge. Normally could hold quite a few cars. The lot for DDTr. on Quinttown Rd.could hold 5-6 parked carefully. Both roads in were rutted from the melt but refrozen today. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Mousley Brook on DDTr. had one semi problematic and SMRTr. had one near the old shed. In both cases the water is high and there is ice on the rocks. Waterproof boots, poles, and light traction help. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Both trail could use some work. Hard to tell from the rains if these are naturally this wet but if so they would be best in late summer, early fall unless you would like wet feet. Lots of small and some not so small blowdowns on both and both could use some trimming. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: None. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: The DDTr we took up was a logging road to a trail. The lower part was wet, uneven, icy in spots, breakable crust/ice, with lots of small stuff down. As we went up a bit more snow (fresh) but still lots of water. Finally it began to freeze but this meant ice bulges. Micros and Hillsounds were ok for ascending with the help of a few BW's around the worst. At the summit we split (Beth did the AT down) and we went down AT, SMRTr. The first mile to mile half was an ice dome!!! Micros would have been a find religion experience. We used Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro's and they were fine with still lots of careful stepping and an occasional BW. Full crampons would not have been overkill. After that the trail became a bit like the DDTr in that it was all running water with ice (often breakable) or muddy, wet leaves. A few spots were excellent but they were few and far between. Was still a great day out with Karen and Beth Z, but just required more time and caution.  
Name
Name: Krobi 
E-Mail
E-Mail: robisho at comcast dot net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-02-26 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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