| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Cabot, The Bulge, The Horn, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, Unknown Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 14, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
York Pond Road was well-plowed all the way to the York Pond East trailhead. Plenty of parking between the spaces at the Bunnell Notch Trail and the lot at the Unknown Pond Trail. Gate at the Fish Hatchery was open pretty late into the evening. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Ice bridges on the Bunnell Notch Trail over the headwater streams for the Upper Ammonoosuc seemed to be in good shape, although that could change quick if we have a melt event. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Kilkenny Ridge Trail is poorly blazed, which makes routefinding a problem if you're breaking trail. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No pups today. |
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 | Bugs: |
No bugs either, thanks be to wintertime. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Hiking partner accidentally lost half of a broken trekking pole on the Unknown Pond Trail. Probably does not want it back. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Buddy and I hiked the full loop to nab Cabot, Bulge, and Horn in the wintertime on Sunday. The Bunnell Notch Trail and Kilkenny Ridge Trail up to the summit of Cabot were packed enough for other hikers to opt to use microspikes, although we opted for snowshoes the whole time to help with trail grading and compaction. The Kilkenny Ridge Trail past the summit of Cabot was unbroken, and we faced some hard miles between finding the trail and breaking the trail. Hikers who follow our route should be cautioned that snowshoe trenches off the north side of Cabot's summit are a bit of a maze, but only one of them eventually makes its way into the col south of The Bulge. Continued breaking trail over The Bulge and to the junction with The Horn Spur, and broke trail up that summit. Then continued to break trail almost to Unknown Pond, where we ran into a hiker attempting a southbound hike of the Kilkenny Ridge Trail all the way from South Pond off of Route 110. Finally made the turn at Unknown Pond and broke trail down the Unknown Pond Trail. Here, too, hikers following our route may encounter some ill-advised jogs caused by hard routefinding, but it parallels the outlet stream from Unknown Pond the whole time. The very bottom of the Unknown Pond Trail goes through some skidder roads that have started to revegetate a bit. |
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 | Name: |
Sheamus |
|
 | E-Mail: |
Sheamus.Fagan@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-15 |
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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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