NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Straightback Mountain, Mt. Anna, Goat Pasture Hill, NH
Trails
Trails: Old Stage Road, Jesus Valley-Beaver Pond Trail, Straightback Mountain Trail, Anna-Straightback Link, Anna-Old Stage Road Link, Blue Trail, Red Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 18, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: 8-10 vehicles at the end of Alton Mountain Road when I got there at about 9:15, maybe 15 when I got back about 5 hours later. The dirt portion of that road is in good condition. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No major crossings on this route. Just a few minor creeks, which were easy. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Several step-overs, duck-unders, and widowmakers on the Blue Trail between Old Stage Road and the Blue/Yellow Trail from Mt. Shannon. The Blue Trail from there to the junction with Red Trail was wet and muddy. Plenty of wet and muddy spots on the other trails from the melting snow. The area is pretty well signed. One possible trespassing issue - see below. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Saw several. I guess they'd be fine. 
Bugs
Bugs: Saw a few on Goat Pasture Hill. I guess they're waking up! 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nada. 
 
Comments
Comments: From the trailhead, I headed east on Old Stage Road almost all the way to Jesus Valley Road. The short (and fairly steep) connector trail to Jesus Valley - Beaver Pond Trail was signed, but strangely enough, there were a whole bunch of No Trespassing signs at that junction following the connecting trail. I noticed, however, that none of the signs indicated a name or contact information of the landowner, and some of them were quite close to the trail signs, which were conspicuously still up. Thus, it wasn't clear if the No Trespassing signs were legitimate or if some wacko was just trying to have those trails all to themselves.

At the junction of Jesus Valley-Beaver Pond Trail and Straightback Mountain Trail is where the snow began in earnest. On Straightback Mountain Trail, most of the rock ledges were bare and there were a few other bare spots, but it was mostly a few inches of wet, sticky snow. No traction is necessary since there was practically no ice, though if the Belknaps get a hard freeze, then spikes might be useful for a few days. One spot that could be blazed better is the junction of Straightback Mountain Trail and Blueberry Pasture Trail - SMT is difficult to follow descending from this junction. The upper part of SMT alternated between mostly bare ledges and 3-6 inches of snow, but the trail itself had become a wet, slushy mess in places. Lots of puddles to jump across or go around.

Anna-Straightback Link was pretty similar - 3-6 inches of snow in most places. Nowhere was there more than 6" of snow, so snowshoes were not needed anywhere. Some of the steeper pitches were quite slippery in the slushy snow, so care is needed. This trail is well-blazed and the bootprints from other hikers were obvious, so there was no difficulty following it. A few bootprints on Marsh Crossing and Precipice Path. At Anna, I continued straight onto Anna-Old Stage Road Link - this trail also had some bootprints. The steeper sections below the lookout were quite slippery at times. As the trail approached and then followed the brook, the snow gradually thinned and then disappeared, and by the time the trail reached Old Stage Road, it was bare and dry.

I followed Old Stage Road to the right for a few dozen yards to the signed junction with Blue Trail. Blue Trail has several ups and downs, including a climb to a great viewpoint overlooking a marsh, and then a descent back to the level of the marsh. The section of Blue Trail down to Red Trail was wet and muddy. The climb up and over Goat Pasture Hill on Red Trail was generally dry, though. Only a few very small patches of snow left on Goat Pasture Hill - they probably won't be there in 24 hours. The swamp crossing on Old Stage Road had some water running across it, but you never had to step in more than an inch of water.

Saw a bunch of other people out enjoying the day. Fun hike!  
Name
Name: Circle/Almond 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-04-18 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved