| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Lake Constance Peak (Iron Mountain), NH |
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 | Trails: |
John Wolter Trail, bushwhack, herd path, O’Brien Way |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, November 22, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Go to the Stewardship center on 25 in East Haverhill just east of Lime Kiln Rd. Not sure there’s a sign for it. That’s where the road/John Wolter Trail is. It seems prudent that you get permission to park/access though. I went to Wolfer Way a bit further west on 25, walked into a building called “The Creamery†and asked if I’d be allowed to park there and use their trails to access Lake Constance Peak. They had no idea what Lake Constance Peak was as they call it Iron Mtn instead. They told me that access on that side (via the JOAN Wolter Trail as shown on Gaia) probably wasn’t a good idea as there are private residences up there but said they’d drive me down the road to the stewardship center and ask the “trails guy†there if I could park and hike. The trails guy introduced himself, gave me thorough directions and let me park and hike there :) |
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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: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
John Wolter Trail is basically a road so was easy to follow. I think it was marked with red diamonds too. O’Brien Way was also an old road and I think was marked with blue diamonds. I don’t recall blowdowns on either. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Probably not a good idea since this is private property. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Day 22, Peak 23. 2nd hike of the day. The rain had stopped and beyond some minor flurries on my way up, the hike was pretty dry and pleasant in the low 40s.
See notes above about parking regarding access to the peak since it seems to be entirely on private property. I power walked about the John Wolter Trail (not to be confused with the Joan Wolter Trail a bit further west as an alternative access point but not recommended). Easy-moderate grades along that old road. After maybe 1.25mi or so you come to a clearing with a cabin and the jct with O’Brien Way. There were some very small, old, cabins/sheds before this as well but this one was much larger. From here, I mistakenly went up O’Brien Way, then realizing my mistake, took a left on a pink flagged trail that was likely one of the ill defined and new ski trails that the trails guy was telling me about. He recommended staying off of them since they were new and not well marked/travelled yet. From there, I followed very rough roads/ski trails which was more or less bushwhacking, the rest of the way to the summit clearing where there’s another large cabin and a nice view. Behind the cabin, there is a rough herd path the rest of the way to the true summit where there is a canister. Less than 100yds from the cabin to the summit. The second half of my hike was steeper as I bushwhacked a more direct line rather than take the switchbacking trail.
After hanging around the summit area awhile, I headed down. I followed the trail back down to the cabins rather than bushwhack/use the ski trails still in development. Once back down at the first large cabin, I took O’Brien Way to make a little loop rather than continue down the same way. O’Brien Way dumps you out on a road just west of John Wolter Way that you’ve got to walk back to along this road. All the trails/roads other than the ski trails still in development were shown on Gaia.
Round trip, the hike is about 4.5mi with 1300ft of gain. 343 more days and 342 more peaks to go… |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-11-26 |
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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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