| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Morgan, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Cascade Trail, Crawford Ridgepole Trail, Mt. Morgan Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, June 18, 2011 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I think in 2006 I parked off to the side of the haul road just off Perch Pond Road and followed that until I got past the Perch Pond outlet and looked for blue blazes to tell me which old log road to take. Today I parked at the Perch Pond Road widening just up from Perch Pond's boat access. There's room for several cars there and another up an old road blocked by a large log where there is a wood arrow pointing in the direction one goes from there. I went on faith through a couple of fields and continuing on an old logging road until finding the blue blazes. It meets up with the blue blazed path coming up from Perch Pond, just up from a small cairn, and the now unified route heads up. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
stepovers |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I'm not sure of the status of this trail. There are no signs at either end although there is a round metal disk where it meets C-R. I get the name from the USGS topo. There are blue paint "blazes" for much of its length but not at either end. Normally I wouldn't suggest following ribbon but if you see some it likely suggests a change in direction in the trail. There is a noticeable if lightly used footpath most of the time and for a lot of it there is a noticeable opening through the woods except the last couple hundred feet near the C-R where it has grown in a fair amount, and around Perch Pond where old logging roads are used. I last hiked this at the end of 2006 and recall seeing new trail work on much of the upper section but likely nothing has been done such. There are a few short muddy sections, a few iffy spots where the trail would be easy to lose, but for much of it it has a nice woodsy footpath. C-R had a couple muddy spots on it, but it's generally fine, but when it meets the Morgan trail up to Morgan there is a dramatic change to a wide eroded to ledge footpath. There are a few stepovers on Cascade and C-R. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
It was a fun day for the mighty tough little dog despite being soaked; as there was a great supply of chipmunks and squirrels that needed to be reminded dogs rule. Trail easy on the feet but not a lot of water, although today that wasn't a problem. He also liked going down to Perch Pond. If your dog likes to chase after squeaky creatures don't expect them to lead you back down the trail. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Surprisingly, skeeters weren't bad and black flies were nowhere to be seen. If I stopped down low, and/or in some places they were landing and biting, but I never needed the spray. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
I lost the trail for a short time, but found it. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
If you are into bagging trails on the USGS quads, I'd get this one soon. I'd suggest taking the USGS topo to approximate the trails. I don't know who did the trail work back in 2006 (I remember being impressed by it), but it could use some brushing in a few key places, signs and maybe some new paint. Given its light use it otherwise doesn't need much in terms of trail work. Newbies might avoid it; experienced hikers should be fine following the route.
It is a pleasant walk in the woods, from a direction where trails to the Squams peaks/ridge are few. The cascades are really nothing special, but Perch Pond is nice especially from the outlet side. Morgan has nice views, although we couldn't see anything today and thus skipped Percival and Webster.
I unfortunately listened to the weather forecasts and thought I'd get a short but different hike in before the rains came. The rain got us anyway while we were on Morgan, and then the sun came out after we left the peak. Things looked good north as I drove home too. But we'll save the bigger peaks for tomorrow and enjoy our stroll of today. |
|
 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
|
 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2011-06-18 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
