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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Wolf, NH
Trails
Trails: Road walk, Gordon Pond Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 27, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Entrance to Gordon Pond Trail off Route 112 (Mountain Side Road) is not signed at all. WMG suggests parking in a gravel area on the S side of 112 - but it is signed 'Head-in Parking Only.' I have no idea what this means - I could have made the argument I was heading into the woods but didn't feel confident using this rationale should I have had to contest a ticket. I opted to park near the entrance of FR 229 ~ .4 miles to the E. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Crossings of Gordon Pond Brook were not a problem.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Low part of GPT is not blazed at all save for a couple of junctions. No sign announcing the entrance to the trail either. There is an active Forest Order closing KRT 'when...posted' from GPT/KRT junction to Route 112 but there is no sign at the junction - make of this what you will. Blowdowns a plenty - more on that below. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any. 
Bugs
Bugs: A couple of skeeters on GPT early AM. When the temps cooled and the winds picked up they went bye-bye. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Found: a penny on the road walk to GPT. I guess it brought me luck since nothing went wrong ;) 
 
Comments
Comments: Day one of an overnight hike..

The low part of GPT is confusing: crossing of woods roads and power lines, only some of which are marked. Once onto more of a footpath about half way up the path is obvious with some occasional blazing. Footing and grades are actually pretty nice but there are a few fallen trees about. The real fun starts when heading N on KRT. The stretch from the junction to the Eliza Brook Shelter has a great many blowdowns: crawl-unders, nasty whack-arounds, careful sit-n-spins...you name it. This was a topic of conversation with three AT hikers at the shelter later on. Anyone looking to 'crush it' on this section of trail should temper their expectations. Areas of wet and mud throughout - in fact one mud pit on KRT was so deep I was able to sink half of my trekking pole into it!

The viewpoint atop Mt. Wolf can still be had but it looks like Ma Nature is reclaiming it. Walking along Gordon Pond Brook and Gordon Pond were quite nice. I wasn't sure what to expect @ Eliza Brook Shelter in terms of people (Holiday weekend, thrus, etc.) but it was just me, the three (very nice) AT hikers and one other who must have arrived after I went to bed. In all a pretty interesting day.  
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail: trailsntrees(at)gmail(dot)com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-05-28 
Link
Link: https:// 
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