| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Shelburne Moriah Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rattle River Trail, Kenduskeag Trail, Shelburne Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, October 19, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Regarding Connor Brook parking, the sign for the road to turn onto from Route 2 says Lady Trooper Lane; the sign saying Connor Brook is about 0.1 miles from Route 2. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Large blowdown with herd path around it on Kenduskeag Trail fairly near Shelburne junction. A few other minor blowdowns, but nothing too significant. Kudos to Shelburne Trail Adopter who has clearly put in extensive work to improve the trail! Some brushing on the western end of Kenduskeag might help although the tread way is easy to follow. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I lost a rubber tip off a hiking pole in a deep mud pit; I’m sure it will never see the light of day again. |
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 | Comments: |
Much of this hike demanded careful foot placement. Lots of mud, water on the trail, roots and rocks. The mud on the Kenduskeag Trail was the worst I have ever seen. I sank in over knee deep at one point a short distance west of the summit. Unfortunately, the depth and extent of mud seems to be driving hikers (understandably) off to the edges of the trail and widening it. If I were to do this hike again I would wait for a prolonged dry spell or drought in hopes of a drier trail. Things were generally slightly drier from the summit down to the Shelburne Trail junction. Of additional note, a number of the plank walkways on Kenduskeag are not level (many are in places where the trail is ascending/descending) and very slippery. This was manageable ascending, but might be very challenging descending in wet weather. The Shelburne Trail was somewhat muddy wherever it got near East Brook despite the obvious extensive efforts of the Adopter to improve the drainage, but no where near as significant as the mud on the Kenduskeag.
On a positive note, the views are very good from multiple places along the Kenduskeag Trail and the foliage is still not far past peak.
I biked from Connor Brook to Rattle River so I could do the traverse without a car spot. It’s an easy ride of about 6 miles. |
|
 | Name: |
Jay Baxter |
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 | E-Mail: |
Jbaxtermdfacs@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-10-19 |
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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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