| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Baldface, North Baldface, Eagle Crag, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Baldface Circle Trail, Chandler Gorge Loop, Meader Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 11, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
On this cloudy Sunday, the Baldface Trailhead parking lot was mostly empty when we started at 9:30am and mostly empty when we returned too. The parking area has restrooms and no fee. After parking, one needs to cross NH Rt. 113 and walk 60 yards north to reach the trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Charles Brook just before completing the clockwise loop was rock-hoppable with care. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One blowdown on the western half of Chandler Gorge Loop. One BIG blowdown on Baldface Circle Trail between South and North Baldface. Two more blowdowns on Baldface Circle Trail on the way down from the junction with Meader Ridge Trail. One of the trail junction signs was replaced by a handwritten one (I believe it was the one for Bicknell Ridge Trail (at the top of that trail, where it meets Baldface Circle Trail). There are a few short places along the lower parts of the circle part of the Baldface Circle Trail (on both sides) where the vegetation is starting to make the trail too narrow. Other than that, the trails are in good condition. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I would have thought that the slab scrambles above South Baldface Shelter would be too difficult for dogs, but we did see a hiker who had descended them with a dog. |
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 | Bugs: |
Bugs (flying ants?) were swarming in a cloud at the North Baldface summit cairn and crawling on the cairn. Not many other bugs, even though it was a humid day - only got bitten once, by some flying insect. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
It is a beautiful and varied trail! Not many people hiking it today: we saw two solo hikers (one with dog) descending while we were going up Baldface Circle Trail towards the South Baldface Shelter, and then a few groups of two or three on the North Baldface summit and just after, but that was it. Maybe on 9/11 everyone was on the 4000-footers.
Even though I think it had not rained in the past few days, the forested part of the trail was damp, full of many different kinds of mushrooms. There was also a little running water on some of the rock slabs above South Baldface Shelter (perhaps flowing out of underground springs?), so care was required in a few places, but the most difficult scrambles were dry. Some of the difficult scrambles descending on Baldface Circle Trail from the junction with Meader Ridge Trail were wet, but still doable with care.
We took a 0.1 mile detour up Meader Ridge Trail to Eagle Crag, which has a nice view of the South Baldface rock slabs we had climbed.
At Circle Junction, the 0.1 mile side path to Emerald Pool is worth taking even if you are not planning to swim; the path continues after reaching the brook, so make sure to continue to the end, where there is a pool that really is emerald-colored, small but deep enough to swim in! Some of my group swam there, but not for long since it felt pretty cold. |
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 | Name: |
mathbp |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-09-12 |
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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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