| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Hedgehog Mountain, Potash Mountain, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
UNH Trail, Downes Brook Trail, Mt. Potash Trail, road walk, FR 511 |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, December 11, 2018 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Large lot well plowed but a bit icy and rutted |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues on Hedgehog, very few places with open water and all were easy. We tried to cross the large crossing at the bottom of Mt. Potash trail but it wasn't bridged all the way across in any spot (plenty of ice but needs several more cold days) - there's a log across about 20-30 yards upstream that looked like it had seen recent use but we didn't want to chance one of us (human or dog) slipping and falling in, so we took the long way around (see more below) |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Several duck-unders on both trails probably mostly from the storm a few weeks ago, only a few were really annoying today but others will be more troublesome with increasing snow depths. Otherwise no major issues |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Hannah had a great day, besides the crossing mentioned above no issues for cold weather hardy dogs |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Great day for these two little peaks, started out on Hedgehog and did the loop CCW - trail is well signed and well packed (though one would posthole if stepping too far off the middle), though choppy and uneven in spots - spikes very helpful but snow was very crusty and hard packed so snowshoes wouldn't have been able to pack it out further. Only one issue where the packed out trail led us astray - after we hit the summit and came around and down to the start of the east ledges, we passed an small area of flow ice with a drop off to the right (east), and a short time later the packed trail veers more to the left but the real trail heads down and to the right where there is a visible blaze - at first we followed the packed trail until it headed back into the woods where it obviously wasn't a real trail corridor, but turned around and quickly found where we should have gone. I carried snowshoes but ditched them back at the car before heading up Potash and didn't miss them the rest of the day. We didn't feel comfortable attempting the large crossing on Mt. Potash trail (see above) so we back tracked and took the long way by walking down the Kanc a short ways to FR 511 and took that to where it meets the trail - the FR is also well packed. We tagged the section of trail from the FR down to the crossing so it would all be redlined - this was the least consolidated section all day, but still very manageable with careful foot placement. No issues up and back to Potash, more hard packed but at times uneven trail and more flow ice compared to what we saw on Hedgehog but all managed with no issues. A chilly day but fantastic views and we had the trails to ourselves - thanks Tim and Hannah for the company and for a great day! |
|
 | Name: |
Hikes with Hannah |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2018-12-11 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
