| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Chocorua (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bolles Trail, Bee Line Trail Chocorua Branch, Brook Trail, West Side Trail, Piper Trail, Champney Falls Trail, Champney Falls Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 2, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room at the Champney Falls parking area just after 8 AM. There were a couple of trailhead stewards there. Upon my return around 3:10, the parking area was full and there were cars parked on the side of the Kanc. The Kanc itself was fairly busy but nowhere near as bad as I've seen it on previous weekends this time of year. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
At least 10 on Bolles Trail, two on Bee Line Trail Chocorua Branch, and another two on Champney Falls Trail. All could be rock-hopped without too much trouble. I brought waders just in case, but never used them. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns on Bolles and Bee Line trails. Several new-looking waterbars on Bolles Trail - they look good. Some of the slabs on Brook Trail and especially Champney Falls Trail are wet and slippery, and there's water running down the trail in places. All signs are in place. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a few. Inexperienced dogs might have an issue with the steep ledge on Brook Trail that gives it its place on the optional T25 list. They shouldn't have any issues anywhere else. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
After being away for a few weeks, this hike was to see how I'd do to get back into the swing of hiking in the White Mountains. And it turned out, it was like I'd never left. This loop has a lot of different features, and ended up being a good choice.
Bolles Trail is lesser-used but generally not tough to follow - it's blazed in yellow for most of its length. A few of the water crossings required a little bit of thought, but they really weren't bad at all. It was peaceful and the climb was not too strenuous. Bee Line Trail Chocorua Branch was in good condition - it starts out gradual alongside a stream (which it crosses twice), and then bears away from the stream and climbs somewhat more steeply up to the ridge. The climbing was never too bad there though. Brook Trail is steeper, and many of the ledges were wet. Luckily, the T25 ledge was dry, which was good since it's already a little hair-raising as it is. I took West Side Trail to bypass the summit since I've summited several times before - West Side Trail is pretty easy. Champney Falls Trail is quite rough and rocky, especially above the falls. Some of the sloping ledges were wet, so they required caution. The falls themselves were flowing fairly well, and it was nice to talk with John the trail steward there. Below the falls, the trail crosses the brook twice while it used to utilize a bypass to avoid those crossings. Not sure why the trail was rerouted to encompass those crossings again.
Very fun hike, and great to be back in the White Mountains after more than a month! |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-10-02 |
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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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