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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks None, NH
Trails
Trails: Three Ponds Trail, Donkey Hill Cutoff, Mt. Kineo Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, May 18, 2023
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Stinson Lake Road lot is easy, and a nice drive to get to it. Only one other car when I arrived back at 10:00. No reception at the lot, and not much more on the trails. Map, compass, and GPS (in that order) are all necessary. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All fine and easy for the southern end of Three Ponds Trail. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Saw the "guillotine" style widowmaker mentioned in this weekend's report - accurate description if it ever drops. One large birch tree on the first "gain" on Donkey Hill Cutoff (clockwise), I think it was there a year and a half ago too.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Overnight frost was great, I never wore my bug net or flicked a tick. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Proper planning paid off for this loop. As I covered my outdoor plants last night in preparation for the frost, I ironically got giddy for it to come! Drier conditions, overnight frost, and cool morning temps made for a completely joyful trip. This smaller loop stays on the other side of the terrible crossing the recent reports mentioned, making for an easy breezy trip. Blazes were helpful and plentiful when needed, not hard to follow at all. Quite a few different junctions, and old trails so keep your eyes open.
Snowmobile trail for Three Ponds portion was great. Any muck was frozen or frosty; plenty of sticks, rocks and sno-mo bridges to get across the wider pits. Three Ponds Shelter has received a new roof in recent years, looks great! No wildlife seen at the southern pond...womp womp. Wind was blowing the right direction though, I would have been downwind of any moose! Donkey Hill Cutoff had a few minor mucky spots, but the combination of helpful rocks and tired old bog bridges mixed with early cold temps kept it easy. Mt. Kineo trail was a joy! Beautiful waterfall and pool not far south of the junction, with a short path to get to it. Rolly terrain kept it interesting for the last mile. Never saw the other person.
Goldthread, red trillium, painted trillium, white sorels, and all violets were out today.  
Name
Name: bria 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2023-05-18 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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