| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Noon Peak, Jennings Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Sandwich Mountain Trail, Drakes Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 5, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Drakes Brook on the Sandwich Mtn. tr. is extremely difficult if not impossible. First option is to track down to the road (49) and cross there. Then whack up the western side back to the trail. Quite easy and not much more than a 5 mins detour. That is what we did. Second option is to whack upstream where there are some logs suitable for crossing (at least 2 hikers did that today). One of them is close to where Drakes Book tr. crosses the brook (we used that one on the way back) and the other is further downstream. It is actually easier to start up Drakes Brook tr., find the logs (visible from the trail), make the crossing and whack back to the Sandwich Mtn. tr. If that is your preferred route, of course.
The crossing on the Drakes Brook tr. can be waded but it is either soaked boots or socks and boots off. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few minor blowdowns and some winter-debris surfacing but overall it is minor. Trails in good shape. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good for dogs if they can handle the crossings and the soft, unstable snow on the Drakes Brook tr. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Sandwich Mtn. tr. is snow and ice free almost 100% to shortly before Noon Peak. Intermittent patches of snow and ice thereafter. Careful barebooting or microspikes.
Jennings Peak is ice/snow free.
Drakes Brook tr. is completely different. It is snow-covered almost 100% to about 1/2 mile before the crossing. Monorail is reasonably solid but very narrow in many places. It is a balancing act and when sliding off postholing is unavoidable. Snow-depth is still a good 2 ft. for much of this tr. Helle and I did okay with microspikes but there are no good choices for this tr.
There is some water on the trails - mostly on the lower section of the Drakes Brook tr. - but it is not significant. |
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 | Name: |
LongMark |
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 | E-Mail: |
perfrost@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-05-05 |
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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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