| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Castle Mountain - West Peak, Goback Savage (East Savage), Goback Savage - East Peak (Stratford Notch Mountain), NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Logging roads, herd paths, bushwhack |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, November 10, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Drove to the gate on the southern branch of Brown Rd (email for coordinates) off of Meridan Hill Rd. At the major T intersection turn right on Brown Rd and follow it for a while, keeping right at the fork (left is for accessing Blue & Gore). Turn left at the large field in front of you that is posted and continue uphill (road becomes rougher), passing a few camps. Follow road around a right turn and up a small hill then park in a clearing just before the (locked) gate (the short segment of road near the gate is not shown on Gaia). |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Slush |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Easily crossed small streams |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dog did great. Lots of hunting in the area so use bright/reflective gear for you and your pups. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None (no mylar balloons?!) |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Followed the logging road past the gate then took the first left and followed it until starting the bushwhack around 0.4 mi. Mostly open woods with a few thicker areas and minor blowdowns but nothing bad. Some small cliff bands on the northwest ridge between 2,800-3,000 ft that are avoidable. Looked for friend's lost trekking poles to no avail. Nice southern view from the summit from a blowdown patch right near the canister. Started due west but too thick so went similar route to the ascent for a bit then went south to hit the west/southwest ridge. Mostly open woods to Ledge Mountain sub-peak (no register found). Skirted northwest around cliffs then went southwest to hit the main logging road near Stratford Notch. The logging road was recently cleared of brush and in great shape. Followed it for just over a mile until it turned sharply west on the north side of East Goback Savage, which I bushwhacked to in mostly open woods and logging cuts to the register on the southwest side of the summit cone. Lots of animal tracks in the fresh snow but only saw grouse. From there followed a similar track down but then cut southeast to the col and followed herd paths up to Stratford Notch Peak, where I searched for a while and finally found the register on the eastern side of the flatish summit in a dense blowdown patch. Went back just to the west of the blowdowns then followed the drainage down due north, avoiding the cliffs, back to the main logging road. Followed this back, singing loudly to ward off gunshots and bushwhacking to cut off the segment that went downhill then back uphill, and landed back at the car just before dark. |
|
 | Name: |
ccam87 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
c_cameron1987@yahoo.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-11-11 |
|
 | 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. |
|
