| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cuba Falls, Mt. Cube - Southeast Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mt. Cube Trail, logging roads, bushwhacks |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 9, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Roadside on NH 25A in Orford. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues with any of the crossings on Mt. Cube Trail, including Brackett Brook. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Mt. Cube Trail is very eroded above the start of the switchbacks. Rock staircases are being compromised. Widening is occurring due to hikers going around mud and the rock steps. Several minor blowdowns scattered about and two large blowdowns blocking the trail between Brackett Brook and the switchbacks. The trail is flooded right at the start where a herd path has been worn around it. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Black flies are abuzz! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Cuba Falls is one of NH's "lost" waterfalls. The former DOC trail to it has long ago been lost to nature and it's a bushwhack now. Lovely to finally find this.
From the area of the falls I followed newer logging roads which directionally took me toward Cube's 2,715 ft. "southeast peak" and the bump just east of it. When these roads ended, I bushwhacked up in open woods at first, following a brook. Grades were steep. I hit some high cliffs on the southern side of the east bump which were crazy steep. I zig zagged up these using trees and ledge for handholds. It was doable, but not preferred. I popped up onto some open ledges with views of Smarts, then wound my way up to the high point of the bump, where there are more nice ledges and views.
I continued to the SE peak proper, hitting a bog that required a detour, then a second one shortly before the top. No views here. I considered going from here to Cube's south peak, but the whack was taking a long time so I beelined it toward Mt. Cube Trail, popping out near the uppermost switchback.
Bushwhacking conditions were all over the place -- open, tight, hardwoods, conifers, wet, tons of blowdowns, steep, holes, rocky, you name it. The going was generally slow. Total off-trail distance was about 3.0 mi. It was an interesting adventure for sure, but I'm not in a hurry to repeat it. :) |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-05-09 |
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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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