| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Gentian Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Austin Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 23, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I drove up Mill Brook Road to where it ends at the former bridge across Austin/Mill Brook. This road is quite driveable, but has several stony, washed-out sections and a couple of steep hills - I'd recommend a 4WD/AWD vehicle with good ground clearance for it. I was the only car there today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Austin/Mill Brook at the end of Mill Brook Road to reach Austin Brook Trail used to have two logs across it as a footbridge, however the rainstorm this past week must have washed the logs away, since there is no bridge anymore. There were not enough rocks above water to rock-hop (and the rocks above water were very icy anyway), so I put waders on for the crossing in both directions. The crossing of Austin/Mill Brook further up the trail has a bridge. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There's no sign where Austin Brook Trail merges onto the recent logging road just below the junction with Dryad Fall Trail, and no sign where it leaves the logging road about 1/4 mile above that junction either. Parts of the logging road section of Austin Brook Trail above the junction with Dryad Fall Trail are very wet and muddy. No major blowdowns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
As long as they know how to avoid icy rock slabs, they should do fine. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
I wasn't planning on doing a redlining hike today, but after the big rainstorm last Monday and reading reports that it had wiped out practically the entire snowpack below about 2,500 feet of elevation, I decided that I couldn't miss the opportunity to finally get this one completed. The portion of Austin Brook Trail between Dryad Fall Trail and Gentian Pond Campsite had been a hanging chad of mine ever since I finished redlining Mahoosuc Trail last year, and I had tried to get this earlier in the year only to discover that the bridge over Austin/Mill Brook on Mill Brook Road that had existed in 2022 was now gone. Armed with that knowledge, I came prepared this time. I (correctly) suspected that the two-log footbridge over Austin/Mill Brook that had existed earlier this year may have been swept away by the rainstorm this past week, so I brought waders for that brook crossing and used them in both directions.
From that point, Austin Brook Trail follows the main logging road up the valley for 0.8 miles, and then turns left onto an older, narrower road (there's a sign and small cairn here) and follows that road for 0.4 miles, merging into another wide logging road just before reaching the junction with Dryad Fall Trail. At this junction, the wide logging road crosses a bridge over a small brook that had an impressive ice cliff visible from the trail. Continuing up Austin Brook Trail, it first follows an older logging road and then merges with yet another wide, newer logging road. This newer road was quite wet and muddy - it was partly frozen in the morning, and somewhat more thawed on the way back. Footing was tough in that section. Soon after another wide logging road branches off to the left, the trail diverges right off the logging road. This turn is not obvious - it has flagging, but there's no sign and the footway is not the clearest. There are a couple of bog bridges very close to the junction, so look for those.
The remaining 3/4 mile of Austin Brook Trail from there to Gentian Pond is a much nicer footpath that is quite scenic. It has several stretches of ice flows along the trail, however they are avoidable by hiking to the side of the trail. The upper crossing of Austin/Mill Brook has a three-log bridge. The bog bridges across the swamp were mostly in good condition - a few of the bog bridges were broken however the ice held them in place today. Up to that point, the trail is a gradual-to-moderate climb, but the final 0.3 miles to the shelter is much steeper, gaining 400 vertical feet of elevation. This section had fallen leaves in the lower half and some ice flows (avoidable if you're careful) in the upper half, but overall wasn't too bad. I brought both micro-spikes and heavier-duty Hillsounds, but never considered pulling them out of my pack. There was no more than a dusting of snow anywhere. At Gentian Pond campsite it was cold, but luckily there was very little wind. The view was very nice. Gentian Pond itself was iced over. My return trip was quick.
I saw just one other hiker all day - a local who was heading down Austin Brook Trail as I was heading up. This was an enjoyable hike, and a great way to finally complete all the trails in Shelburne! |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-23 |
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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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