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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Baldface, South Baldface, NH
Trails
Trails: Bicknell Ridge Trail, Baldface Circle Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 31, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: No issues.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Water crossing were not an issue.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Mosquitoes were out below 2000' yet were kept at bay by a steady wind.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None.  
 
Comments
Comments: This was a really enjoyable hike. We clocked it at 9.85 miles, 4010' vertical, over 6 hours and 5 minutes. We opted to hike this route counter clockwise for better or for worse. The first 0.7 miles is essentially a flat approach. We then took the bicknell ridge trail and crosses Charles Brook, which was magnificent above the viewpoint at 2000'. It was breathtaking. I would describe it as a zig-zag ascent over rough, whitish, grippy granite with tons of views along the way. After reaching the ridge junction and being greeted by a tremendous view of the Presidentials and Carters the real fun started. Winds were steady at 20mph with gusts to 40. Was comfortable for much of the hike wearing a long john top, nylon pants, and gaitors. There was plenty of up-and-down and uneven slabs on the way to North Baldface. From the ridge junction to the summit, we needed a solid 40 plus minutes. There is a 20' patch of soft, springy snow just below the summit of North Baldface - no other snow on the trail. The descent off of North Baldface was rugged. I found it to be the hardest part of the day. South Baldface has a completely different character than North Baldface - gradual, slabby, etc. The dreaded baldface knob descent was steep and required care, yet was well marked and do-able. There were three tricky slabs that required me to sit down and slide on my bottom. The rest was just a scramble. There was one exposed slab maybe 25' that was intense. The rest did not have exposure. From there, it was an easy walk out along an old logging road.  
Name
Name: Picante 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-06-01 
Link
Link: https:// 
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