| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bald Cap, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Austin Brook Trail (attempt), Mahoosuc Trail, Dryad Falls Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, October 1, 2021 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nice parking lot right across from Austin Brook TH. Room for 4-5 cars. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No problems. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
In good condition - except as described below.
Several bog-bridges are in disrepair and some are under water. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not recommended because of the logging activities as described below. |
|
 | Bugs: |
N/A. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
N/A. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Significant logging activities in the area and I found a sign saying that the Austin Brook tr. is closed (all news to me). I did not see this sign before my return. It is about 2 miles from the TH where the trail bears left off a logging road section. I missed this turn going up due to the new logging debris and whacked across a bit further to the north. The sign was on the ground, crumbled and half-covered by leaves but is now placed back up on the pole holding the trail sign at this location. No other signage that I noticed.
- The junction of Austin Brook and Dryad Falls is in the middle of the new logging activity. Junction sign is still there.
- New logging roads cuts across the Austin Brook in 2 places (above and below the Dryad Falls jct.) - very hard to follow the trail.
- The Dryad Falls tr. from the Austin Brook jct. to the short herd-path leading to the Falls is a new logging road - part of it is okay for walking, part of it is a real mess.
- Another new logging road cuts into the Dryad Falls tr. a short section above the Dryad Falls herd path - again very difficult to follow.
I launched the bushwhack to Bald Cap from the Mahoosuc tr. about 1/4 mile north of the Peabody Brook tr. Jct. A bit to the North of the long bog-bridge section through a meadow and almost directly to the East of the peak.
The whack is a "mixed bag" - dense spruce, awkward blowdowns and a "match-stick" section but also some nice meadows (wet) and relatively open, moss-overgrown sections.
Canister content is damp but usable. New bags would be good - unfortunately I forgot to bring my replacement kit.
Last previous entry was from January 2021.
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|
 | Name: |
LongMark |
|
 | E-Mail: |
perfrost@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-10-02 |
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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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