| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Blue Mountain - North Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Road walk, old road, herd paths, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, October 17, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
From Rt 3 in North Stratford/Colebrook, turn east onto Washburn Rd which is shown as Gene Jordan Rd/Ln on many GPSs. Follow for 0.2mi (avoid other lesser travelled roads diverging in this 0.2mi) then bear right, soon crossing Cone Brook. I believe I followed this for about 1mi where you’ll come to a gated driveway. I got stumped here as I thought this was the gated road other spoke of that we were supposed to hike up but it was posted and appeared to be a driveway. Turns out that what also looks like a driveway to the left is actually the continuation of the road (no longer shown on Gaia). Follow this straight for another 1/4mi or so to the gate. I forget why but I chose to park shortly before the gate where there was room to pull to the side of the road. Other than maybe the very end of this road, the road, while dirt, should be easily drivable by low clearance cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I don’t recall any obstacles on the road |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I found a pair of poles left at the summit. Feel free to email if they’re yours. One was broke though. |
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 | Comments: |
Day 351, Peak 342. 2nd hike and 4th peak of the day after hiking Gore, Blue/Bunnell, and West Blue earlier. My apologies for a very late trail report. I was lucky in that it never really rained on me thought it was a little wet.
I walked behind the gate and continued up the road to the HOL between North Blue and Blue/Bunnell. The road was pleasant walking and Gaia had me at only 3.3mi. And that was from shortly BEFORE the gate. So the road walk doesn’t appear to be quite as long as others have said. The road’s grades were usually gentle; I wish all trails were like this. You were able to move up it quite quickly. If you continue to the far (NE) side of the HOL, you’ll find a brushy little area on the left. As I was hoping, I found an old road that slabbed north, then NE on the east side of the ridge. Grades were generally moderate. I forget exactly where but I think it was nearly at the summit ridge that the road faded and I picked up herd paths and whacked to the summit along the very flag ridgeline. The walking was very easy. This hardly qualifies as a bushwhack. I didn’t find the canister hard to find; just takes a bit to get there as the ridgeline is so flat. An older sign in mentioned a sign nearby but I didn’t find it. Probably is no longer there.
I intended to follow the same road back down to the col but didn’t find it so stuck closer to the spine of the ridge instead. It was nearly just as good going. Though this hike involves a long road walk, I still found it to be quite pleasant. And, if you care to boogy on the road walk, can be done quite quickly. Gaia had me at 8mi with about 1800ft of gain. It took me 3hr15min to complete. I was intentionally moving fast though I did take a long break at the summit. 14 more days and 23 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: |
2022-10-26 |
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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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