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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Three Ponds, NH
Trails
Trails: Hubbard Brook Trail, Three Ponds Trail, Donkey Hill Cutoff, Mt. Kineo Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, September 13, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: We met at the end of the spur road at the northern end of Mt Kineo Trail, dropped two cars, then drove two cars over to the eastern end of Hubbard Brook Trail. The road is open and in good shape. Some sharp rocks jutting out of the road every so often to avoid and some bumps but very sound. Some long curves in the road too so don’t take it too fast. Only room for a few cars at each trailhead but, big surprise, we were the only ones there ;)  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Mostly easy rock hops. Sucker Brook was easily crossed on “beaver debris”. No issues other than the beaver flooded areas on Hubbard Brook Trail.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: All trails were blazed in yellow and much better than I would have thought. Not sure if call them well blazed but all trails had many blazes on them. Hubbard Brook was probably the best blazed, because, as the guidebook notes, it was just blazed a couple years ago. Still, this was the hardest trail to follow due to the beaver flooding on toward the eastern end of the trail. It appears that the flooding has even destroyed the rerouted trail so a little bushwhacking/trail finding is necessary. There is one rerouted part where there’s really no footbed so pay attention to the blazes. They are double yellow blazed and are very close together in this section. A few blowdowns throughout but none too numerous or difficult. Most were very large, old, stepovers/straddles. I think most were toward the end of the hike so we’re probably on Mt Kineo Trail and/or Donkey Hill Cutoff. All the signage is intact.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: These should be fine trails for dogs. A friend brought his and it did fine.  
Bugs
Bugs: None. I’d check for ticks though due to the brushiness of some areas of these trails.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: My friend packed out a beer can.  
 
Comments
Comments: Did what’s known in the redlining community as “the big Three Ponds Loop” to close out my Moosilauke tab today. Had the great company of three other redliners, some old pals, and some new :) A nice way to close out another tab. 6 out of the 12 tabs are now done!

We went up Three Ponds and down Kineo but this saved the steepest climbing forever the end of the day so I’d recommend doing it in the reverse direction. The only part of the day where the trail disappears is toward the eastern end of Hubbard Brook Trail. It didn’t take us long to find though. I’d recommend some type of GPS tool like Gaia though. Beyond that, just pay attention to signs where trails enter/exit roads, snowmobile trails, etc. and you should be fine :)

Things are scary dry overall but don’t you worry, there’s still some deep much to avoid on these trails ;) Trail runners were very usable though. The trails, while brushy, are not overgrown and have evidently been cleared out in recent years. This is a good time to do this loop if you need it.

Saw a heron at Three Ponds where we stopped to eat lunch (at the spur mentioned where the trail turns and the trail continues straight). No hikers seen but a couple out kayaking and someone with an ATV in the woods near Hubbard Brook. Nice temps and a mostly cloudy day.  
Name
Name: Liam Cooney 
E-Mail
E-Mail: liamcooney96@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-09-13 
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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