| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mist, Webster Slide Mountain, Wachipauka Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Wachipauka Pond Trail, Webster Slide Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 7, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Large pulloff at the powerlines on 25C |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
A small rock hop crossing at the beginning of Wachipauka Pond trail next to Rt 25C. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails were in decent shape. A blowndown or two on Webster Slide, and the side trail leading down to the pond. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any, but they'd love the pond. |
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 | Bugs: |
Beginning of the hike, nothing. By the time I hit Mt Mist, they came out in full force. I lucked out and they went away at the pond, but then were relentless most of the rest of the day. And I mean relentless. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Sanity lost, always found after a good hike. |
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 | Comments: |
Stellar day for a hike. The Wachipauka Pond trail (Appalachian trail) from 25C was dry about 98 percent of the time. Wildlife sign was also abundant (deer, moose, and bear tracks). By the time I got to Mt Mist, the yellow violets, spring beauties, and trout lilies were all opening up (I swear there were even more open when I came though on my way back). That was also the point where the black flies became a nuisance. When I arrived at the pond, a cross breeze kept the flies at bay, which was a welcome surprise. I watched a loon come close (but never too close). The trail up Webster slide had a couple wet spots, and was as steep and eroded as I remembered. Views from the top are dizzying, especially if you pick your way down to the edges of the cliffs. It's not recommended for the faint of heart. The black flies were becoming ridiculous at this location, and I couldn't take more than a 30 second break. On my way back up Mt Mist, I decided to bushwhack around some cliffs in search for some needle in the haystack views. I found a good one where I had to move a couple of branches out of the way. The pond looks awesome from that vantage point, and you could see Moosilauke in the distance. There was another area that looked like an open vista, but it looked far too dangerous to get to. Plus, the black flies were at their absolute worst at this location. So off I retreated, and bushwhacked back to the trail. Woods on Mt Mist were pretty much 100 percent open. From here it was a relatively quick hike back to the car. The bugs pretty much disappeared with a half mile to go. All in all, it was a wonderful day hike despite the black flies. Temps were in the 60s to near 70...perfect! |
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 | Name: |
Phil |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-05-08 |
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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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