| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Devil's Hopyard, Rogers Ledge, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Devil's Hopyard Trail, Rogers tentsite spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 19, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Gate was closed when I got there, a few minutes before 9, so we parked at a small lot just before it, that has room for a few cars. On our afternoon return to South Pond the large parking areas there had plenty of room; the beach wasn't crowded despite the fine warm day. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock steps |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Kilkenny Ridge Trail sign post broken and down at South Pond. Waterbars recently cleaned and perhaps enhanced at several wet/mud spots where multiple drainage ditches created. The many mud spots in the middle section weren't bad, perhaps due to the waterbar work but also due to the current dry conditions since it's hard to drain flat seeps. I recalled a couple of brushy areas but not where. There is one part step over and part step around blowdown north of Rogers Ledge. I took out a blocking but small spruce blowdown just south of Rogers Ledge. Devil's Hopyard is rough in its upper section so I didn't keep track of blowdowns, but there was nothing blocking. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper had fun, the pawbed is mostly soft, slopes are modest, shade abundant and solitude complete (today), but he would have liked a lot more sip n dips in the upper half. He was very happy to plunk down in the brook by the intersection of Kilkenny with Mill Brook, and then again when we got down to Cold Brook on the return leg. I offered him water in a bowl but he turned that down; he wanted to dip. Devil's Hopyard in its upper section was the exception to the foregoing, it's more like Ice Gulch than Rogers Ledge, but he's used to that kind of trail. The road walk wasn't bad; there was no traffic in the morning and little in the afternoon, with most of it shaded. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few skeeters, black flies and face gnats. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
South Pond doesn't open until 10 so we did the road walk. After yesterday's incredibly crowded 4K part of the hike (the redline part had very few people) we didn't see a soul all day until returning to South Pond, and even then the beach area wasn't crowded despite the warm temps. There are excellent views from Rogers Ledge, and Devil's Hopyard is mildly different, but overall this is just a lovely walk in quiet woods, and that was great on a warm day. Thanks to the trail maintainers for cleaning out the waterbars, and as always thanks Pepper for a great day on the trails. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-06-19 |
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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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