| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
French's Ledges, NH |
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 | Trails: |
French's Ledges Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 14, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Roadside along Colby Hill Road in Plainfield at a pulloff 0.4 mi. northwest of the covered bridge, on the southwest side of the road. The trailhead is not marked except for a yellow UVLT conservation easement sign. The trail starts at the northern end of the pulloff. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Overall, no huge problems, but this trail needs a lot of maintenance. Where it leaves the parking pulloff is obscure. The first 0.3 mi. is like a jungle with lots of thorny growth and needs re-clearing. This section also has wet footing and several broken bog bridges. Blazing needs to be redone top to bottom. The ones that are there are faded, some being only a few feet off the ground. Sections of the trail have no blazing. One stretch through a recently logged area was confusing to navigate. Some signage at junctions is obscured by tree growth. The last steep pitch up to the ledges has one, maybe two blazes. The actual trail was difficult to discern from the many worn herd paths. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure. I saw lots of them, but not on this route. |
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 | Bugs: |
Nope. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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|
 | Comments: |
This is definitely the lesser used approach to the ledges. :) Started out with wet trail, then things dried out the rest of the way, as the route mostly followed footpaths with one section of woods road walking. Lots of intersections with other marked and unmarked trails, so follow the faded red blazes and signs carefully. Some of these trails are also used by mountain bikers.
Mostly an easy ascent except for the last steep and rough climb to the bare, rocky cone, which offers excellent views in all directions. A really nice spot. It would be awesome for sunrise or sunset.
I didn't see anyone along the trail I took, but it did see several people who came up from the Plainfield School. That seems to be the popular approach and I'll be back to check that out. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-10-14 |
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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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