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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks None, NH
Trails
Trails: Basin Trail, Black Angel Trail, Highwater Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, June 18, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Iron Ranger is closed up, doesn't appear to be any way to pay day-use fee, or is being enforced. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The Wild River at the old Spider Bridge site is EASILY rock hoppable. Not even rock-hoppable; rock-walkable almost. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: All in good shape.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Out but tolerable with spray 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We decided on this easy 8 mile hike for our second day at Wild River to knock out some redlining paths. Basin and Black Angel are both in good shape, and Basin is an attractive trail in it's own right as it follows Blue Brook, which given the low water level, you could just walk straight up on the rock face in sections. We walked a cuttoff and loops below and on the Rim junction and checked out the Blue Brook Campsite. These are just packed earth, no pads. There is excellent water source just off the campsite. One communal fire pit had been established. Many signs promoting re-vegetation were up, which would force people into a much smaller area; I'd say maybe 6 tents max could socially distance in here safely. There was no sign of recent use; which seemed surprising as it's an easy 2.3 miles from the road so would make for a good quick trip in.

Black Angel is in good shape, and as mentioned before, the water crossing of the Wild River, at this time, barely deserves mentioning. We hopped across it a few times just for fun because it's not supposed to be that low, and so we wouldn't have to for redlining later if it was dangerous. The Wild River trail back to the trailhead here is easy, flat, and wide. There is one washed out section that has you sidehilling on some slightly precarious sand, but it's a short stretch of 500 feet or so and then it's right back to railroad grade. You can really see the sheer power of the Wild River, what it can do when it's cooking is amazing.

Nice little loop; not much in the way of views, but still a decent day hike for people at the Wild River campground, and would make for a nice strenuous hike for novices who are camping at Wild River. Mostly just made the trip report to report on the Wild River Crossing. Enjoy!  
Name
Name: HotRodJimmy 
E-Mail
E-Mail: hotrodjimmy04@hotmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-06-18 
Link
Link: https:// 
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