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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Monadnock, Monte Rosa, NH
Trails
Trails: Royce Trail, White Arrow Trail, Smith Summit Trail, Monte Rosa Trail, Royce Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, July 16, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: No legal parking at the trail crossing on NH 124. Rather than park at the Old Toll Rd. trailhead, I parked at the Gap Mountain North trailhead and took the Royce Trail (MMT) from there. Room for several cars. The parking lot is also not maintained for winter use, according to a sign. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All rock hopped or stepped over. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Only issue of note was a blowdown on the Royce Trail between the Gap Mtn North trailhead and NH 124- it was an easy step over. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: No dogs allowed on Mt. Monadnock, but that may not be the case for the MMT south of NH 124... 
Bugs
Bugs: A few here and there, mostly near the trailhead. Cool breeze at the top kept them at bay. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Took the longer, less traveled route to Mt. Monadnock- the Royce and White Arrow Trails, which make up part of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, from the Gap Mountain North trailhead. Didn't see a soul going up and down the Royce Trail, and I had the White Arrow Trail to myself for a 1/4 of a mile or so. After that, it got fairly crowded. The summit wasn't bad when I first got there, but I headed back down as more people started coming. Took Smith Summit Trail to Monte Rosa, which is a gem of a spot on the Monadnock massif. Unique perspective of Monadnock from the top, and far less crowded than the summit proper.

As for trail conditions, things were quite wet to start, but once above the trees, the trails were a lot drier. Going back down, the trails weren't quite as wet. A few muddy spots, but overall not bad.

This one came out to 6.4 miles roundtrip with 2,000 ft. of elevation gain, and I had over 4 miles of it completely to myself! A morning well spent.  
Name
Name: Spencer 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-07-16 
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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