| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Martha, Owlshead, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Cherry Mountain Trail, Martha’s Mile, Owl’s Head Trail, road walk |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
My 2007 Honda CR-V struggled just a bit getting up the hill to the lot (easy to drive by... I did once) with all the snow/ice. It didn’t really seem plowed to me. I also don’t have snow tires on yet... oops.
I believe I was the 4th or 5th car there at 1pm. Room for at least 2 to 3 times as many. Only car left when I got back around 5:45. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The believe the only crossing is at 1.1mi along Owl’s Head Trail and it was trivial today :) |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
If I recall correctly, the only blowdowns of the day were along Martha’s Mile Trail. There’s two relatively close together than I squared under that we’re a pain in the ass. I think there was one or two more along there that were easier to navigate. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
There were two I met towards the beginning that were coming down as I was ascending. Thank you to the owners who leashed them :) They seemed to be doing fine. I imagine dogs would have trouble with and at least need a boost up the steep section just before the summit of Owl’s Head. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Ripped a microspike today tripping over a blowdown but got it replaced on my way home at EMS :) |
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 | Comments: |
Cherry Mountail Trail (west), Mount Martha summit spur, Martha’s Mile, Owl’s Head Trail, long ass road walk
I brought snowshoes and full crampons and anticipated using he former but after chatting with two people that can down right as I was pulling in it sounded like they wouldn’t be necessary to get to Owl’s Head, and, even though they hadn’t traveled on it, Owl’s Head Trail going down so I left them in the car realizing I may have to do an out and back depending on how Owl’s Head Trail looked but there were bootprints that weren’t postholing so I went for it and was glad I did. Easy decent. Road walk back was long (3.5-4mi) but I got some nice sunset views early on.
You could probably get away with barebooting to the summit of Mount Martha (and I think 2 of the people I saw did), but microspikes would be wise. I’d say that at least microspikes would be a necessity for going on and getting up Owl’s Head. I saw one person in Hillsounds. You could strap full crampons on to get up the icy scramble before Owl’s Head summit as well. I only had microspikes and everyone had gone around the sheet of ice but I opted to go up it and check my technique. I didn’t fall to my death so all is well :)
Not much wind by the time I got there and not as chilly as I thought it’d been (until I got back to my car and saw that it was 16F...brrr). This combined with sunny blue skies and a “picture frame†view of the entire presidential range and a few other great views made this a wonderful day :) |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-01-02 |
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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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