| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Scar Ridge - West Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ski trails, herd path, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 13, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked in the main lot for Loon Mountain, more or less empty at 0530. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None today! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Morning hike of Scar, and in the context of doing Elephant Mountain last weekend, this was much easier. Took Brookway ski trail to Camp III Lodge, saw that Walking Boss was mowed and took that (quadriceps burning) shorter route up to the start of the bushwhack. The start of the herd path is about 50-100 feet downhill of the (chairlift) quad on North Peak.
The first 0.5mi of the "bushwhack" is very well-defined, to the point where I consulted my old 1920s-1980s White Mountain Guides to see if this was an old trail, which I can't find. Once reaching the NW shoulder of the West Peak of Scar, the bushwhack begins SE and traverses through an area strewn with many boulders and herd paths come and go. Once reaching a small col with a marshy/muddy area, continue directly up the spine of the NW-SE ridge of Scar until about 3400'. From there, I deferred to the North of the ridge to avoid blowdown sections, and found a few herd paths helping me to the summit.
The section between 3400-3600 feet might be tricky because (unfortunately) there is a herd path blazed in orange for most of the bushwhack. I believe this route may extend south into the blowdowns which many people report. I don't follow blazes unless I know where they're going, and my more northern route of ascent was quite pleasurable through moss forest. It was a true bushwhack that encountered some thicker forest in places, but anyone with bushwhacking experience should consider leaving the herd path routes here and defer North of the West-East ridge at 3500' to get to the summit. Took the recommended Sunset-Bear Claw-Brookway descent once back at the ski area. Happy hiking! |
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 | Name: |
WishfulThinking |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-08-13 |
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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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