| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Mountain - Middle Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
East Pasture Trail, Black Mountain Summit Spur, Black Mountain Cut-Off, unnamed trail, Bald Land Trail, Scenic Vista Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, August 27, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At the driveable end of Black Mountain Road in Jackson, where it turns Class VI. Room for several cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Confusing signage on EPT that may lead one to think you are on Bald Land Trail. The turn where BLT leaves the old woods road after the height of land needs an arrow or sign (see comments below). Nothing in the way of blowdowns. The top of the loop near the summit is brushy in spots. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure, but bring water. I went down the cabin spring spur to check it out and was promptly met by yet another aggressive dog. If I hear "oh they are friendly" as your dog aggressively approaches barking and snarling, I'm going to scream. Please control your dog on the trail. It's not difficult. |
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 | Bugs: |
BLT still had a lot of PITA mosquitoes. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
Easy walking up this lesser traveled route to Black along a XC ski trail. Mostly dry but grassy. A fantastic view of the Doubleheads from an open field a short distance up the trail. The two viewpoints on the summit are very grown in now, much more than last time I was here a few years ago. Still a decent viewpoint from the cabin. Along EPT at a height of land, a short, unsigned trail leads to a solitary gravestone and what looks like a stone boundary corner marker. Not sure what the story is with the grave.
On the way down, I decided to to an out and back on BLT for redlining. The trail is very wide and easy, climbing up to the height of land, where the vista spur departs right. The spur is very overgrown and leads to no vista from what I can see. I followed it to a large clearing. On the other side, a footway continued into the woods on a very overgrown skid road. I didn't go too far. Was there a vista here at one point?
Back on the BLT, I continued east but missed the turn off the woods road and onto the footpath. I was rushing as I needed to be elsewhere later in the day. I kept heading down the woods road, which didn't feel right, and now I know why. I did reach a nice campsite though which had a decent view, where I turned around.
In general, all these trails were very dry, which just a few spots of mud. Only saw a few other folks out, including a group of four at the cabin. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-08-27 |
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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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