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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Heator Mountain, Suncook Mountain, Mt. Klem, Mt. Mack, Mt. Anna, Goat Pasture Hill, Mt. Shannon, NH
Trails
Trails: Road walk, Orange/Yellow Trail, Orange Trail, Mack Ridge Trail, Round Pond-Piper Link, bushwhack, Klem-Mack Loop, Red Trail, Blue Trail, bushwhack, Blue/Yellow Trail, Yellow Trail, road walk
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 21, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty @ Hidden Valley Scout Camp. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The crossings on this route are small and were passable on rocks today - though it took some searching to find a decent crossing along the Blue Trail NE of Shannon to start my whack to that peak. Plenty of water between Mack and Anna if you need it. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: I counted three trees down on the Orange/ Mack Ridge Trails: one between the camp and Old Stage Road, another further north and a larger one higher up below the Red/Orange Trail. I tossed aside many limbs and branches throughout the day. Evidence of recent tree and limb clearing throughout - most notably in the Goat Pasture Hill/Mt. Shannon area. Thanks for that! 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any. 
Bugs
Bugs: Didn't see any. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: This was a convoluted loop with some backtracking and short bushwhacks thrown in to change things up. Started heading N on the excellent Mack Ridge, then from the N shore of Round Pond (beautiful also) I whacked to Heator Mtn., back down and then whacked to Suncook Mtn. from the E rather than taking the herd path. Then heading toward Mt. Klem I did a short whack from the W rather than circumnavigate the summit. To get to Mt. Mack, I backtracked down to Round Pond and took the Orange/Red Trail, continuing on the Red Trail over Mt. Anna and all the way to the Blue Trail junction S of Goat Pasture Hill. On the Blue Trail, I decided to whack up to Mt. Shannon, hitting the Blue/Yellow Trail just short of the summit by design. Finally headed W on Yellow Trail and back out to the parking area.

It seemed the dry/snow line was just about the 43.5 degree line: S of the line was dry while N of the line it was mostly snow. Early in the day (and especially off trail in the woods) the snow was supportive but as the day wore on the trails became softer. There are some stretches (Mack/Anna col for one) where there was more exposed trail than snow. All that said there was probably only 3-4" maximum where snow was present. I'm guessing a good amount of that will disappear in the coming days. For today I wore my rock spikes for much of the middle portion, doing the on/off routine a couple of times along the way.

Amazingly I only saw three others the entire day: a group doing the traverse eastward. Fantastic weather, fun trails, interesting areas to explore (Carbonneau Cave!), a wide variety of interesting views and lots of solitude made this a really good trek. It is always a pleasure to wander this fine range!  
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-04-21 
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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