| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Kearsarge, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Trail, Rollins Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 16, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked off Kearsarge Valley Roadside parking area. Ours was the first vehicle there just before 8am.
On our return at around 1:30pm, there were 2 more vehicles parked there. Plenty of room for more vehicles. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing to write home about. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails were generally in great condition. A couple small blowdowns on Lincoln Trail.
Thank you to trail maintainer(s)! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw 3 at summit. Met one of 3 (black lab) with owner just below the summit as just as we rejoined Lincoln trail from Rollins. Both owner and pooch were very friendly. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few flies along the way down, none biting. No ticks acquired in open grass areas. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nada. |
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 | Comments: |
We ascended entirely on Lincoln Trail, taking the somewhat steeper and rocky last 0.4 mile segment to the summit. Thankfully the rock is largely exposed to the sun/wind and was dry. Descended on Rollins trail and cut over to Lincoln trail junction from upper parking lot. That lot looked full or very close to full.
Summit had perhaps a couple dozen visitors, all enjoying the blue, sunny skies just as we were. probably in mid-40's when we started out, but likely in lower 50's later. Surprising weather day, as forecasts called for cloudy skies -- which didn't start to even slightly appear with high/light clouds to the Southwest until early afternoon as we were making our last descent on the forest road segment of Lincoln trail before it makes a hard right towards Kearsarge Valley Road and last 1/2 mile of trail. We consider ourselves lucky that the weather was so good that day.
While we on the last leg of open ridge before reaching the Lincoln/Rollins trail junction, we had an NH Air National Guard black hawk fly-by. They flew around the summit (at a safe distance) and then back over us. Saw them later in the distance. Must have been on a training mission.
On the way up Lincoln trail we saw no one, until the summit. On the way down Lincoln trail we saw perhaps only 3 people descending and maybe 10 ascending.
My trail buddy commented that he had been on Rollins trail some 25 years previous and recalled it was a much narrower trail back then. Perhaps all the years of trail use and COVID herds widened and eroded it. Who knows.
Aside from some largely expected minor slipping and sliding on wet leaves, roots and rocks, no complaints. Weather was superb for an mid-October day. Great day on the mountain. |
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 | Name: |
Mike with Hiking Buddy |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-10-17 |
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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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