| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Brook Walk, Shannon Brook Trail, Connector Trail, Turtleback Mountain Trail, Faraway Mountain Trail, Upper Bridle Path, Oak Ridge Cutoff, Faraway Mountain Connector, Cold Spring Trail, Settlement Trail, Whitten Trail, Cold Spring Road, Pond Trail, Oak Ridge Trail, Lower Bridle Path |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 28, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at the various lots on the Lakes of the Clouds property. I saw a bit of black ice on the road beyond but I didn't hit it. Roads were very well plowed. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Shannon Brook on Pond Trail required stepping on submerged rocks. Nothing waterproof boots can't handle. Not all that high now but I could see this being more tricky if water were real high. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Easy stepover (maybe made harder without any snow) on Upper Bridle Path, and an old, large, leaner 5min from the upper end of the trail. I think there was one other leaner somewhere as well but can't remember where. I think it was on or near the Upper Bridle Path; won't be much of an issue until it falls and it was pretty small I think. I think all trail signs were intact. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Trails are marked with colored diamonds but also often have old paint blaze on them as well. Brook Walk is marked in white, Shannon Brook in red, Connector Trail in red and yellow, Turtleback Mtn in yellow, Faraway Mtn in orange, Bridle Path (both sections) in green, Oak Ridge Cutoff in white, Faraway Mtn Connector in red and orange, Cold Spring in red, Settlement Trail in white, Whitten Trail in blue, and Oak Ridge Trail in blue. The spur path on Bridle Path is not marked and could be a little difficult to follow at its end with the snow.
First hike of the day was to clean up lower elevation trails in the Ossipees. One more and much longer hike to finish the high elevation trails and we should be done with the Ossipees :) The route: Brook Walk (and OAB on 0.1mi extension/spur) --> Connector Trail --> right on Turtleback Mtn Trail --> Faraway Mtn Trail (both entrances) --> Upper Bridle Path --> left (down) on Oak Ridge Cutoff --> OAB on Faraway Mtn TRail between a Ridge Cutoff and Upper Bridle Path --> Faraway Mtn Connector --> Cold Spring Trail --> Settlement Trail (and loop) --> Settlement Trail back to --> Whitten Trail --> Cold Spring Rd --> Pond Trail --> Oak Ridge Trail --> OAB on Bridle Path to Faraway Mtn Trail including spur to knob --> left on Oak Ridge Trail (both exits) and loop at viewpoint --> left on Turtleback Mtn Trail --> OAB on lowest section of Bridle Path --> Pond Trail back to car.
Note the spurs, loops, trail extensions, etc. noted in the route above, at least some of which are needed for redlining. Trails are shown accurately on Gaia except for Brook Walk which starts along the road south of the pond as described in the guidebook, not east of it as seen on Gaia. I barebooted all day though spikes could have been ideal on Brook Walk and snowshoes should have been used on Upper Bridle Path though it was packed and relatively firm. Snow depth was very minimal at times and maybe upward of a foot at others. Any postholing was minimal ;) Snow got slightly wet later in the day as it was above freezing. Gaia had us at jsut over 11mi, 1800ft of gain, 6hrs. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-02-03 |
|
 | 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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