| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Sleeper, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Downes Brook Trail, Kate Sleeper Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, June 30, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot was empty on arrival and not half full when I left. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water was the main consideration today. Downes Brook Trail crosses the river more than 20 times during the out and back. With all the recent rain the river was swollen and fast. Rock hopping was not an option for many of the crossings today. For the first half dozen crossings I removed my footwear as the water level was beyond my knees, but after that I got tired of it and just plowed right through. The hardest crossing was the very first one not far from the parking lot. I went a fair bit upstream from the normal crossing point to find some water that wasn't quite as fast moving. In short, if you're not comfortable with fast water you might want to wait a bit for the river volume to subside. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Hundreds and hundreds of blowdowns. Some of them look like they've been there for many years. That said, most are easily walked over, under or around. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I wouldn't bring my dog until the water volume and speed subsided a bit. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Mosquitoes were numerous and ferocious at and near Downes Brook Trail parking, but once on the trail a bit their furor subsided. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Five and half hours on the trail and I saw no-one else! Mud wasn't particularly bad given all the rain. Got drenched on the final summit push by all the plants that were sagging into the trail. |
|
 | Name: |
Chris L |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-06-30 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
