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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Hall's Ledge, NH
Trails
Trails: Route 16, Hall's Ledge Trail, Carter Notch Road, Hutmen's Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, July 6, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Spotted a vehicle roadside at Hutmen's, and drove up the road, parking at Rocky Branch. A few cars in the lot, a couple just finishing up when we got there around 12:30-ish. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Crossings on this route were mostly bridged, though the one "crossing" on Hutmen's was easily hopped on damp moss covered rock. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Hall's and Hutmen's both in dire need of some maintenance... ANY maintenance. Not sure either of them have received any since I was last here in 2014. Hall's was marked with some orange blazes near the bottom, then some yellow blazes here and there, old yellow duct tape, and some orange flagging. A struggle to follow at times, as the tread wasn't very evident in a lot of places, and was especially vague through the logged over area, with a lot of brush to push through. Where the trail starts to level off just prior to the ledge, the going got a lot better. Past the picnic table (which is not long for this world), you're on somewhat grassy XC trails, so good going all the way down to the gate at Carter Notch Road. No blowdowns of note at least! Hutmen's was easy enough to follow, as it follows more XC trails, with tall grass and some very muddy areas, up to near its height of land. Once turning off the XC trails, there are a dozen or so large stepover blowdowns, and a couple of crowns down in the trail. There is still no signage indicating the left turn you have to take on the XC trail, if you were ascending from 16. In fact, most signage for Hutmen's is off in the woods, and you have to be looking for it. Somewhat brushy just before and after the orchard too, and in the grassy lane just up from the road. Other than where it coincides with the XC trails, Hutmen's is basically unmarked except for a few signs here and there, but is mostly easy to follow. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Not bad ascending Hall's, but mosquitoes were the nuisance of the day on Hutmen's. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Tried to beat the storms, and succeeded, though it did start dumping just as we unlocked our spotted vehicle. It was a navigational exercise to get up to Hall's Ledge, then a less mentally taxing task to get out over Hutmen's. Saw no one, and that's just the way we like it!  
Name
Name: Bill Robichaud 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bill.robichaud@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-07-06 
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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