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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Moose Mountain - South Peak Moose Mountain - North Peak, Holts Ledge, Smarts Mountain, Mt. Cube, NH
Trails
Trails: Ledyard Link, Velvet Rocks Trail, Hanover Center Trail, Moose Mountain Trail, Holt's Ledge Trail, Skiway Trail, Lambert Ridge Trail, J Trail, Kodak Trail, Mt. Cube Trail, Atwell Hill Trail, Ore Hill Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 27, 2023
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking where I parked for Ledyard Link. Liz had a roomy pull off on 25C for her car at the end. Many of the road crossings we passed did not have trailheads, but all made sense for a practical pull off. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Not one of the several water crossing was bad! My least favorite was the one on Kodak after Hexacuba shelter, looks like the old makeshift log bridge is out so it's just one big step to an angled rock.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trapper John- Privy desperately needs help, it's like 2 dumps away from full Skiway Trail- In need of some sort of brush removal through the grassy area, path was at times somewhat uncertain Lambert Ridge- Upper stretches had some incredibly deep mud, lots and lots of erosion in the center and visibly more around where people have been clearly walking around the mud Mt. Cube Trail- Lower reaches had the same mud problem stated on Lambert. Atwell Hill Trail- Some sinking bog bridges, parts of the trail completely overtaken by mud patches that'll sink you well over ankle deep Ore Hill Tent Site- Potentially in need of some marking but not terrible 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: So so so many. Lots of mosquitos and black flies, bug spray didn't work too well against either. Found a tick on my leg after Holt's Ledge, probably from the grassy area at the beginning. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Really enjoyed this 40-mile, 9000-foot gain trek. Stayed at Trapper John in a tent and then Hexacuba in the shelter. Only ran into two NOBOS, which was the hope as we didn't want to take up room in the shelter's when there was more of them coming through.

Day one was Ledyard Link - Trapper, Day two was Trapper - Hexacuba, three was Hexacuba - 25C. I wouldn't have done it any differently based on where they elevation gain fell across the three days.

Also, a note to anyone who normally backpacks on the Long Trail, none of these privies have toilet paper in them. That is just a special Vermont thing... so bring your own!

I wrote a lengthy trail report below because I couldn't fathom fitting everything I had to tell someone who was interested in this route in this box here. Super straightforward, yet I feel like I know my state so much better from it! 10/10 recommend!  
Name
Name: wheresizzy 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2023-05-27 
Link
Link: https://www.wheresizzy.com/post/40-miles-of-the-nh-appalachian-trail-5-26-23 
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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