| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mowglis Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Carter-Gibbs Trail, Oregon Mountain Trail, Elwell Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 13, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for a few cars on the side of the road opposite the trailhead. Trailhead is 0.5 miles up Hardy Country Road from its intersection with Sculptured Rocks Road, in Groton. Hardy Country Road is clear and in decent shape (albeit with a couple of brief rutted, muddy sections), passable by passenger car. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Not an issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Overall, the trails are in good shape.
Carter-Gibbs Trail: recent stepover blowdown a short ways before second water crossing (heading south), and one almost immediately prior to intersection with Oregon Mountain Trail. Both are about a foot in diameter, and can be walked around without too much effort. Some sections on this trail may need some brushing in the spring/summer -- raspberry canes in short sections in the areas of the logging skid paths from a few years back, and hobblebush in the older hardwood sections at higher elevation. (We cleaned up most of the new deadfall as we walked it.)
Oregon Mountain Trail: from Carter-Gibbs Trail to Mowglis Mountain, this trail is in decent shape, but has become overgrown a bit in the year or so since we were last on it -- needs some hobblebush brushing in several sections, as well as removal of some deadfall. Needs a few blazes refreshed and a toppled cairn rebuilt. (We cleaned a bit of this up as we walked it.)
Elwell Trail: from Mowglis Mountain to Back 80 Trail, it's in excellent shape after last year's major brushing/cleaning effort. Needs some blazes refreshed and very minor clean-up brushing. (We cleaned up most of the new deadfall.) |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
An occasional fly buzzing about. No ticks, though -- yet. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We wanted to check out the condition of the Elwell Trail between the Back 80 Trail and Mowglis Mountain, heading in from the AMC Cardigan Lodge.
However, after reading on the AMC's online backcountry conditions that the road to the lodge was "impassable due to deep mud and ruts," we opted to head in from another direction -- via the Carter-Gibbs and Oregon Mountain Trails.
This was probably a better option, anyway, given that these trails get good sun and are therefore almost completely clear of snow/ice. Also, as a bonus, the cascades on Dana Brook are excellent right now and worth the effort on their own.
There are a few patches of ice and snow, but everything is completely bare-bootable now; light traction got a ride on the pack today.
Also, having now done in the past few months all sections of trail between Oregon and Mowglis Mountains, the Oregon Mountain Trail is the way to go -- the Elwell Trail between these two peaks needs some serious brushing and a bit of deadfall/blowdown removal. The Elwell Trail west of Mowglis Mountain is in great shape (newly cleaned section), and the Elwell Trail east of Oregon Mountain is in decent shape, as well.
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-03-14 |
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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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