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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Bald Cap, Gentian Pond, Lary Flume, Mt. Success, NH
Trails
Trails: Bushwhack, Mahoosuc Trail, Austin Brook Trail, bushwhack, Success Trail, Outlook Loop
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 26, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Success Pond Road has been graded, but is still rough for regular cars. We dropped a couple of low clearance cars at a logging road a few miles before the Success trailhead. From there, we caravaned to the junction of SPR and the spur road which leads to the trailhead and dropped a few more cars. Then we piled into high clearance vehicles and backtracked a bit on SPR to another logging road, which we followed into a clearing where we found a pickup truck and a campfire that was burning out. Starting our journey here shaved of a bit of mileage from the start of the hike. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No issues. Everything is very dry right now. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No problems on the trails we used. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: I wouldn't recommend it for the bushwhack sections we did. 
Bugs
Bugs: Black flies were out, but were not too terrible. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Lost my safety glasses on the whack up to North Bald Cap. 
 
Comments
Comments: From the log landing where we parked, we bushwhacked about due south along the bottom of the cliffs on North Bald Cap. We then turned northwest and whacked very steeply up alongside the cliffs. Woods were a mix of conditions, but mostly fairly open. The climb here is pretty relentless, but you do pop out on some open ledges along the way, providing great views over to The Outlook and Success. We eventually made our way up the southern ridge and arrived at the summit, which is marked with a cairn. The actual high point and jar are just behind this, but you have to push through some brief thick spruce to get there.

From NBC, we whacked southeast toward the MT, mostly through decent woods, but with one very thick section, where we skirted a boggy area. We popped out less than a mile from the ABT junction.

At that junction, we made a side trip to Gentian Pond, where some of us took a dip and some filtered water and had lunch.

Leaving the pond, we backtracked up the MT for a few tenths before departing the trail east for the very well hidden Lary Flume. Woods were mostly open and the descent got steeper as we approached the flume. We dropped into the flume with its high rock walls. It was mostly dry except for a few small trickles over the sides. We whacked up the flume, which proved to be very difficult. Tons of blowdown and many holes between boulders that could easily trap a leg. I fell into one with no injuries fortunately. Progress was slow here. A member of our group said it reminded them of Mahoosuc Notch, but with trees. Climbing out of the very steep flume "headwall", the woods got easier and we rejoined the MT.

Back on trails for the rest of the day, we headed for Mt. Success. The approach from the south is very steep and long, with brief breaks. The terrain was more strenuous than the map indicated. Due to the heat, I developed leg cramps climbing up to the summit, which slowed us a bit.

Near the summit, we found the herd path to the plane crash, which is flagged. I've wanted to photograph this for a while and I'm glad I finally got there. Lots of sharp metal here, so use caution walking around.

From there we proceeded over the summit of Success, where I picked up #51 for my 52WAV. On the way down ST, the group took the loop to the Outlook, but I chose to wait for them due to the aforementioned cramps. I'll be back for that. Once back together, we descended to the Success trailhead and then off to collect our cars.

The original plan was to also visit Bald Cap and Dryad Falls, but with the heat and the bushwhacks taking a long time, we made the call to omit those. Still a very long day in the Mahoosucs, and quite the adventure! :) We passed a few thru-hikers, and chatted with one at the Gentian Pond Shelter.  
Name
Name: KenM 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kmacgray@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-06-27 
Link
Link: https:// 
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