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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Paugus (attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Old Mast Road, Lawrence Trail, bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 30, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty @ Ferncroft. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The small ones on Old Mast Road are bridged. The small ones on the Lawrence Trail were not a problem today. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A couple of new looking felled tress on Old Mast Road and a couple more on the Lawrence Trail: one before the switchbacks half way up and another gnarly one in the switchbacks. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any. 
Bugs
Bugs: None today. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: I had been wanting to try this peak for a while and after reading BAXTERSMOM's report yesterday it confirmed this route I wanted to take anyhow. Old Mast Road is mostly snow/ice free until just before the 4-way junction where a few small rotting monorails remain which are mostly avoidable. Once onto the Lawrence Trail unavoidable soft/rotting snow appeared in several stretches - more so at the beginning. Overall I'd guess this trail is 70% snow/ice free...however the other 30% was maddening as I postholed many (no, too many) times up to my knees. Treading lightly helped a bit but overall not so much. I used rock spikes on the way up (therefore the mention above) but they really didn't do any good - I left them in the pack on descent.

For the whack I started at just shy of 3000' on the SW shoulder. This route I chose was THICK! Higher up patches of rotting, soft snow made appearances and it was back to sink city. Eventually I made the ridge but despite following some herd-looking paths and using visual references I never did find the register - therefore this goes down as an 'attempt.' After repeatedly criss-crossing the area and repeatedly postholing some more I hit my turn-around time and headed out. For descent I took a slightly more southern line and it was much more open, even happening onto a deadfall patch which allowed for some nice views.

I'm not looking to complete any list this peak is on - I simply chose it as being something interesting and different to do. Sure, I didn't find the register but it's all good: I got a nice hike in (my original plan was a home day), I didn't see a soul the entire trek and the inside of my car smelled pretty good on the way home :)  
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-04-30 
Link
Link: https:// 
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