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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks The Bulge, The Horn, NH
Trails
Trails: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 4, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Mill Brook Road open and dry. A few blowdowns, but took out the biggest, so no issues at least to the trailhead. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Minor via this northern approach; rock hoppable. Surrounding brooks and rivers appeared to be at flood stage from all of the rain. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Lots of blowdowns and deadfall. We cleaned up most of the deadfall and about half of the blowdowns. One major corridor blocker on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail between the pond and the Horn. Horn Spur is extremely brushy. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Hodgepodge of shoulder season conditions. Snow from the start - bootable for now, but a few more inches would make me want snowshoes on the ridge.

Unknown Pond Trail (northern side) was sloppy in the flats with areas of mud and running water. A consistent inch or two of fresh powder as the ascent started. Barebootable for now.

Reaching the ridge, there was a crusty base of an inch or two with an inch or two of powder. Unknown Pond is iced over. Trail finding can be tough between the pond and the Horn, as the Forest Service reportedly makes maintainers in this area keep blazing to a minimum. Some pooled water and some drifts of a half a foot of powder on top of a few inches of frozen granular.

We went as far as The Bulge, but decided to call it a day there, as the mostly sunny forecast did not materialize and the trail conditions were vexing in places. The other hikers who approached from the north bagged it either at the pond or a few tenths above it.

A few areas of ice on the ascent of The Bulge, but spikes or careful barebooting were adequate. No tracks beyond the Bulge.

We also went up the Horn, but were limited to a view of fog. The summit was encased in ice. Spikes provided enough traction to get up, but care was needed to descend the ice covered rock.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-11-04 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
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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