Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Smarts Mountain, Trapper John Shelter, Holts Ledge, NH |
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| Trails: |
Daniel Doan Trail, Lambert Ridge Trail, Ranger Trail, Appalachian Trail, Holts Ledge Trail, Trapper John Spur |
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| Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 10, 2016 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
A small lot off Goose Pond Road with a second pullover 100 feet further down the road provided plenty of parking on the South end. We were the only car at the Daniel Doan Trailhead. All roads in this quiet corner of NH were plowed, sanded, and in good shape with little washboarding or holes, including Mousey Brook Road. Not sure if that road will stay plowed this winter. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Easily rock-hopped the few we encountered. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The Ranger Trail took a little searching here and there to discern where it went. Blazes are rare, and most are the old Orange-Black-Orange DOC blazes which are quite old and faded. The center section of this trail seems to spend a lot of time in a brook bed, and then later seems to have a lot of muddy areas which are partially frozen right now. Annoying to descend for sure. A large multi-limbed blowdown is blocking the Daniel Doan Trail right where a couple arrows indicate a short reroute around an eroded section. Otherwise the trails were in good shape. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
We saw one dog on a short walk with its humans to/from Holts Ledge. It was a cold day, but otherwise no dog-related issues. |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
With frigid temps forecast, Theresa and I opted for a lower-elevation day of redlining along the AT, ascending the Daniel Doan Trail and traversing to the car spot off Goose Pond Road. Other than the earlier mentioned annoyance that is the Ranger Trail (which we knew about going in), we enjoyed a great day. Snow depths ranged from a couple inches down low to 6-8" atop Smarts Mountain. We put on microspikes 2/3 of the way up the Daniel Doan Trail for a little traction in the powdery snow, and they were helpful for the descent off Smarts which had a lot of hidden ice on the ledges. Spikes off after the stream crossing near the old garage (what a neat, and odd sight so deep into the woods!), then back on for most of the Holts Ledge Trail, though it probably could have been bare-booted all the way as ice was minimal. We saw a whopping 4 people all day, a nice and quiet walk in the woods with some nice views here and there. The Smarts Fire Tower cab was closed, but nice views were had from the stairs just under the cab. |
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| Name: |
madmattd |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-12-11 |
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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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