| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Shaw, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Cold Spring Road, Cold Spring Trail, Faraway Mountain Connector, Faraway Mountain Trail, Oak Ridge Cutoff, High Ridge Trail, Black Snout Trail, Turtleback Mountain Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 30, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No issues at hiker lot near bottling plant. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Took out some small debris, but a few chainsaw blowdowns remain. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Continued effort to avoid fragile hiking trails during this prolonged shoulder season.
Rain changed to snow around noontime.
Wet trail on the ascent with few areas of running water (in part from long-neglected waterbars) ascending Oak Ridge Cutoff. Close to full snow cover once reaching High Ridge Trail, but never more than an inch or so.
Turtleback Mountain Trail was snowy until a mile or so above the Turtleback summit junction. Trail was sloppiest within a few hundred vertical feet above and below the Turtleback summit junction (particularly below it). Smoother sailing below 1,500 feet where the trail was rebuilt a few years ago.
Snow showers gave way to a few glimpses of sun later in the afternoon. Temperatures were in the 30s and the ground didn't appear to be frozen anywhere, so sloppiness will probably continue for awhile. Low angle trails (pretty much all carriage roads) and a lack of ice never once made me consider traction. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-30 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/ |
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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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