| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Bald Cap, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Austin Brook Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 17, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Icy parking areas (bring sand). Room for two vehicles across the street from the TH. Room for 2-4 more recently made by plowing an area at the TH. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One stream crossing on Austin Brook Trail that did not have a log bridge or snow bridge. Just a couple steps on wet rocks wearing snowshoes |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Upper half of Austin Brook Trail is poorly marked in many spots for winter hiking. Either no blazes, very few blazes, or VERY old blazes that are difficult to see. Was particularly difficult to route find because there had been no track/hikers in awhile. The turn towards the climb from the marshy area at ~3 miles from the TH could be easily missed, and after the wood sign arrows at the bottom of the climb, the 1st blaze was 0.2 miles off to the left. Maybe 3 or 4 blazes (one on a fallen tree)on the last 0.5 miles. The trail route may be clear in the summer, but with so few blazes, very difficult to find/follow going up in the winter. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Should be no problem for an experienced trail dog |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Eight hikers went to the Gentian Pond Shelter on Saturday 3/16. We reconnoitered a bushwhack to N. Bald Cap that afternoon, going to the logged-out area (~0.5 mile) on the ridge going to N. Bald Cap. From the shelter we went south on the AT and started bushwhacking climbing to the right where the AT turns left heading towards Upper Gentian Pond (~0.1 miles from intersection of AT and Austin Brook Trail. The bushwhack track climbs to a ridge where there is a somewhat open area from logging around 10 years ago. The track heads left through young spruce trees and re-enters the forest and then climbing to the ledges (fabulous views) below the true summit. About 0.2 miles further is a small clearing at the summit and a mason jar on a string with a summit log pad. Some areas around the ledges were sketchy with alpine snowshoes, and probably would be better with microspikes. There was lots of unconsolidated snow the whole trip and spruce traps on the bushwhack, so snowshoes are definitely needed. We postholed even with snowshoes, particularly those with shorter snowshoes. Between Gentian Pond and Upper Gentian Pond (on the AT) we found flowing water under the snow and ice using an ice axe. The shelter is wonderful! |
|
 | Name: |
Bob Najar |
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 | E-Mail: |
portsmouthrunner@myfairpoint.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-03-20 |
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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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