| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Lamb Valley Brook Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hell Gate Pond Trail, Lamb Valley Pond Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, June 1, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Following other trip reports, we drove in Paramanchenee Road, to Abbott Brook Road, to an unnamed road. If you look at Google maps, you will note that you cannot drive on the section of West Branch Road closest to the river as that is on Dartmouth Second College Grant land. In the satellite view, you will easily note the pedestrian foot bridge that leads across the river to the Dartmouth Hell Gate cabins and large field. Park north of this bridge on the un-named dirt road, and bushwhack an easy few yards south to the main West Branch Road (which leads to Dead Diamond Road) and pedestrian bridge. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Comments: |
John and I went into this area to get three peaks: W Branch Abbott; Tracy Brk; Lamb Valley. Road all great and all three peaks easily doable in a day.
Active logging within the first couple of miles, and big trucks on the road, so drive carefully.
This was a fun hike/bushwhack and we enjoyed it. We crossed the pedestrian suspension bridge, crossed a mowed field and passed by a Dartmouth cabin, picking up the Hell Gate Pond Trail (signed) at the south end of the field. Trail well marked with yellow blazes. Approaching Hell Gate Pond, we continued south towards Lamb Valley Pond (also signed and blazed, although trail gets less use and had a few blowdowns). Approaching the Pond, we dropped right/westerly down a bank, looking for a way to cross the feeder brook and wetlands. We bumped into an abandoned trail (yellow blazes) that skirted the east flank of the Pond and upper beaver ponds. We found our way across by walking on top of a large beaver dam.
From there, now E/NE of the peak, we bushwhacked up through reasonable woods. Some hobble, but nothing bad. Approaching the top, we skirted some logging regrowth by staying slightly left and slabbing a bit - trying to keep in woods and out of the regrowth. The woods for the last tenth mile were tight, but not hard. All in all, we thought it a fine approach.
Came out the same way. When we crossed the beaver dam and hit the abandoned trail, we followed it south to Lamb Valley Pond, but it was wet and muddy. Nice views of the pond and found a row boat for the Dartmouth folks to use. Bushwhacked back upslope to the trail and hiked out. On the way out we hiked down a short spur to visit the Hell Gate Pond. And back up at the cabin area and field, we went down to water's edge to look at the bottom end of Hell Gate Gorge/falls. Very lovely setting.
With trails, bushwhack, and pond exploring... this was just over a 3-hour hike.
Another successful NH500 hike with JEM3. |
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 | Name: |
Beth Z. |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-06-03 |
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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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