| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mexico, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Big Rock Cave Trail, Old Paugus Trail, Bolles Trail, Bickford Trail, road walk |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, April 10, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at Cabin/Big Rock Cave/Brook parking. There were a handful of cars there when I returned. I saw one vehicle parked on the shoulder of 113 at Bickford. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The Whitin Brook crossings were simple rock hops. Although I didn't give it more than a quick glance figuring it would be tricky from prior years experience, it looked like Paugus Brook would be a very wet one due to the lack of good sized boulders. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There were two blocking blowdowns. One is the previously reported beech on Old Paugus near its intersection with Big Rock Cave. The other is a multi-stem on Old Paugus nearing the Wilderness sign hiking towards Bolles. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good dog hike. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Lower sections of Big Rock Cave and Bickford were a mix of snow and open leafy stretches so barebooting was best for the trail. Up higher on Big Rock Cave the snow was still solid from the prior freeze which made for excellent snowshoeing. Big Rock Cave from Whitin Brook to Old Paugus was okay in snowshoes, but Old Paugus down to Whitin is another mix of open and snow. Old Paugus towards Bolles from there was mostly a good snowshoe (and I followed recent snowshoe tracks that had come down Whitin Brook) but I often needed to go just to the side of the narrow middle open to get good snow. This past weekend some had postholed from Bolles up Old Paugus as far as the Wilderness sign and then turned around. I felt like it was the last good day for this stretch. Bolles was soft flat ice, presumably from snowmobiling. Bickford to Paugus Brook was a mix of open and snow sections. Bickford from Old Paugus to 113 had more open areas than I would like but postholing wasn't an option so I worked around those open areas as best I could to stay on the snow and not tear up the trail. Once I reached the mowed area of a house I took the snowshoes off to avoid any possible damage to the trail, and booted out the rest of the way. I felt like last weekend was probably the last good day for Bickford. |
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 | Name: |
Zero |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-04-10 |
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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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