| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Middle Mountain (Shelburne), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Austin Brook Trail, Gates Brook Trail, Middle Mountain Trail, Peabody Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 18, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking area for Austin Brook Trail is a dirt lot across the street from the start of the trail. This lot had a puddle in it. Do NOT park along the shoulder on the same side as the trail - the landowners don't like that. Peabody Brook Trail has a pullout across the street that can fit a few cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
A few minor crossings on Austin Brook Trail. A few other minor ones on the western side of Middle Mountain Trail. Despite all the rain, none of them were too difficult. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns here and there - the ones that I can remember were on Austin Brook Trail and were pretty small. Austin Brook Trail also had a lot of large puddles on the flatter sections since it was raining steadily. Signage was mixed - Austin Brook and Peabody Brook Trails were well signed, while Gates Brook Trail was not signed as such (at the junction with Austin Brook Trail, the sign pointed to Middle Mountain rather than naming the trail, and at the junction with Middle Mountain Trail, there was only a sign for Middle Mountain and Gates Brook Trail was again not named). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
These trails seem like they'd be fine for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not much of an issue, since it was steadily raining the entire time. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
This was a wet and sodden but still enjoyable hike on the southern slopes of the Mahoosuc Range in Shelburne. We started up Austin Brook Trail, which was first an old road (that had a lot of puddles) and then became a footpath that was quite gradual. When the trail comes out on a major logging road, it turns left - the logging road forks shortly thereafter, and there's a sign at the fork. Our original plan was to continue up Austin Brook Trail to Dryad Fall Trail and visit Dream Lake, but the rainy conditions prompted us to follow Gates Brook Trail toward Middle Mountain instead. The WMG says that this portion of Gates Brook Trail has a steep crossing of a brook where a bridge has been removed - that bridge appears to have been replaced, since there were no steep crossings. When the trail enters the clearing at the end of the gravel road, continue to the far side of the crossing and go left - you'll see a trail sign. The trail descended quite gradually for a little bit until the junction with Middle Mountain Trail.
Middle Mountain Trail began on some woods roads, but soon became a moderate climb (with some steep pitches). As we ascended, the trail got rockier and ledgier - the ledges were wet, but climbing them was never very difficult. There were several areas of wild blueberries in this section. When we reached the summit area, views were limited due to the wet weather, but we could still see Bald Cap Peak looming above us. There's a sign pointing the direction of the descent toward Peabody Brook Trail. This section was moderate, rocky in parts, but never too steep, however it seemed longer than it was. Beginners should follow blazes carefully in this section since there are many sharp turns. Peabody Brook Trail was an easy route out. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-07-19 |
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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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