NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Shaw, Black Snoot, Middle Mountain, Turtleback Mountain, Bald Knob, NH
Trails
Trails: Turtleback Mountain Trail, High Ridge Trail, Black Snout Trail, Black Snout Spur, bushwhacks, Turtleback Mountain Summit Trail, Bald Knob Trail, Bald Knob Cutoff, Shannon Brook Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, December 14, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: At Castle outside gate. Herd path from Turtleback to Bald Knob is posted as closed on the Turtleback side. Northern Shannon Brook tr. is also posted closed. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: I met a maintainer on Turtleback Tr. One blowdowon on the Black Snout Tr., between shaw an black snouth. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I used snowshoes the entire way. They were a must for upper trails and bushwhacks and were best for most lower trails, though Bald Knob was thin cover near the top.

I took Turtleback mountain trail up to the high ridge. It was well packed to the summit spur, then post holded and rough for a bit, then snowmobile packed. High Ridge is snowmobile packed. Black Snout tr. had no tracks from Turtleback tr. to the Mt. Shaw Tr. Junction.

From the bend west of the turtleback/black snout Tr. junction, I bushwhacked Middle Mountain. I followed the contour until I was just north of the peak and bushwhacked over the highpoint and down to the Turtleback Tr. Snow was fairly supportive in big snowshoes. I noted a cairn on a bump on Middle, though the point just north seemed higher.
I then descended over Turtleback and Shaw.

This hike finished redlining the Trail Bandit Map of the Ossipee Mountains for me.  
Name
Name: zporterColdRiverCampCook 
E-Mail
E-Mail: zap88@tds.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-12-14 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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