| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Starr King, Mt. Waumbek, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Starr King Road, Starr King Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 17, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
In winter, one should park not at the Starr King Trailhead at the end of Starr King Rd., but instead in one of two lots on the other side of US 2. The first of these is just to the northwest of Starr King Rd., an open lot with a sloped driveway leading down from US 2 to it. The second, a little farther northwest, is a row of parking spaces just southeast of the Irving gas station. The first lot was snowy enough that one of our cars almost got stuck in it. The second seems to be better plowed, but requires walking an additional 500 ft. along US 2. Care should be taken when crossing US 2 on foot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only two tiny streams were encountered while climbing up to Mt. Starr King, each small enough to be crossed in one step, really not worth mentioning. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There is a fallen tree across the trail between Mt. Starr King and Mt. Waumbek. One can go under, over, or around it; going under was easiest (if going around, snowshoes are needed since the off-trail snow is deep). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The whole trail from the Starr King Trailhead to the scenic viewpoint 50 yds. east of the Mt. Waumbek summit is well-packed snow, so microspikes are sufficient, though snowshoes are also a good choice. Going downhill from Mt. Starr King to the trailhead, sliding down on a butt sled would work well too. Off the trail, the unpacked snow was about 30 inches deep. There is a small cairn marking the summit of Mt. Waumbek. We originally considered continuing to the east peak of Mt. Waumbek (0.2 miles along the Kilkenny Ridge Trail), but the Kilkenny Ridge Trail beyond the scenic viewpoint was unbroken, hidden in deep unpacked snow, so we turned back instead. We saw a half dozen other groups with 2-3 people each over the course of our hike. |
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 | Name: |
mathbp |
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 | E-Mail: |
tiramisu_eater@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-02-17 |
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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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