| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Skatutakee Mountain, Thumb Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Harriskat Trail, Thumbs Up Trail, Thumbs Down Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 5, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Large parking lot at the Harris Center in Hancock had just four cars today. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
A couple on Thumbs Down Trail that were easy rock hops. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No major blowdowns. Trails were very well marked and signed. A few muddy spots but nothing terrible. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
According to the Southern NH Trail Guide, they must be leashed at all times. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This was my first visit to this area, but it certainly won't be my last!
Trails were damp at the start of the hike, but there wasn't a lot of mud and most of it was on Thumbs Down Trail. The fallen leaves on the trails obscured them in places, but they are well blazed with metal blazes bolted to trees, so the trails were easy to follow. The trails have their fair share of rocks and roots, but nothing too bad. The view from the summit of Skatutakee was nice, and the view from the outlook just past Thumb Mountain was even better (Mt. Monadnock was clearly featured, and there were fewer man-made structures in the view than I would've expected). Several aspects of the hike reminded me of the Belknaps - short but rocky trails, the steep pitch on the approach to Thumb Mountain (it reminded me of some of the pitches on Dave Roberts Quarry Trail), and even the rock throne on the summit of Skatutakee reminded me of the similar one on North Piper Mountain.
Despite the beauty of the mountains and the pleasant weather, we saw only a few other people on the trails. Great to hike with Ben again! |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-11-05 |
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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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