| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Snoot, Mt. Shaw, Middle Mountain, Turtleback Mountain, Bald Knob, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bushwhack, Mt. Shaw Trail, Black Snout Trail, High Ridge Trail, Turtleback Mountain Trail, bushwhack, Turtleback Summit Trail, Bald Knob Trail, road walk |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 29, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Mine was the only one @ the Mt. Shaw parking area @ 8 AM. Three others were there when I returned mid-afternoon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The small crossings on the Mt. Shaw Trail are not a problem. Other small ones on the Turtleback Mountain Trail are bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I only saw one nasty felled tree on the Black Snout Trail (near the High Ridge Trail on the way to Shaw) and one other not-so-nasty one high on the Turtleback Mountain Trail. On the LRCT property the trails are well signed and blazed - no signage off their property but blazing is sufficient. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few buzzing around...it won't be long now. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
This one started out with a surprise: the familiar meander on a woods road through maple taps from the parking area is no more due to logging. Knowing the Mt. Shaw Trail abuts the brook for a while I just followed it until I came to the junction of the Tate Mountain ('Italian') Trail. There are faint herd paths along the way if needed. The Mt. Shaw Trail was in surprisingly good shape. Upon hitting the ridge I visited Black Snout where I counted 84 (yes: eighty-four!) piles of moose poop on the half-mile pitch to the summit...with plenty more off trail. What is it about this peak they like so much??? From there up to Mt. Shaw for a snack, decent views to the north and contemplation. Then I hiked the High Ridge Trail to the Turtleback Mountain Trail and at the hairpin turn near the brook I took a westerly bearing and whacked up to Middle Mountain. I could not find any intel on this peak prior to my trip...and now I know why :) There are unique views on top due to it being...well...in the middle...but all through the trees. From there a southerly bearing brought my back onto the Turtleback Mountain Trail to visit that summit, then onto Bald Knob and back out to Route 171 for a .5 mile road walk.
These trails are 99.9% snow and ice free: there are a few small sections remaining that can either be skirted on trail or simply walked on. Sections of the Turtleback Mountain Trail are muddy...the thick stuff that wants to steal a boot. It was nice walking on bridle paths for much of this trek until I descended the 'off property' Bald Knob Trail: the upper portion is very steep and loose while the middle portion was very rocky, rooty and leafy with less than ideal footing.
I didn't see a soul until I met a Meetup group of 14 on Turtleback's summit and again on Bald Knob. I saw just two others on the northern Bald Knob Trail and that was it all day. A little wind was nice to keep cool and to keep the few bugs away. It's always fun to hike this area and today didn't disappoint.
Right after I left heading west on Route 171 I saw a bear crossing the road! |
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 | Name: |
HMJ |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-04-29 |
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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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