| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Duck Pond Mountain, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Nancy Pond Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 5, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plowed, 4 cars including my own upon finishing at 10:30am - would be tough to cram any more vehicles but possible for 1-2 more with diligent parking. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All bridged with crusty snow |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Tossed a couple downed limbs from the treadway, other than a few leaners over the trail higher up, all good. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any today but evidently had been out recently. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Nope |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nope |
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|
 | Comments: |
Great day snowshoeing packed trails. My hat is off to The Teal Goat and accompanying entourage for packing the route so well the day prior. An overnight freeze had formed a rather supportive pack down low which persisted up to Nancy Pond - although, the snow grain felt to be such a quality which would become akin to quicksand if not for the widened footprint of a snowshoe.
Once off the packed route, Nancy Pond was adrift with small-grain, loose snow which had been wind-scoured and deposited into drifts resembling a light clay underfoot. This snow around the pond was soft, yet felt incredibly heavy to lift a snowshoe out of.
Into the woods, the floatation improved considerably despite the abrupt wall of snow-laden evergreen boughs. Thankfully, this young growth only persisted several rods into the thick 'whack, from there the conifers dispersed somewhat, opening up to a matchstick forest of gorgeous spruce. I had found heaven on earth along the low slopes of Duck Pond Mountain. In fact - I was visiting this peak essentially because of virgin spruce stands found within the Nancy Brook Research Natural Area. I found much more young growth, working to fill the voids where older stands had topped from ice or wind.
Either way, the climb was brief - 0.4-miles or so. Nearing the ultimate high point, the eye-level forest canopy was a haze of tight-knit spruce twigs, these all simultaneously reached for any exposed flesh - here, protective glasses are a must for any bushwhacker who wants to see their return path out of the forest.
The recognized high point occupies (currently) an area perhaps just smaller than the interior dimensions of a phonebooth, very tight indeed. Following ascending tracks back out, it is possible to find semblances of "herd path", mostly from other hikers bashing through spruce/fir branches, creating a corridor, I followed these as much as possible as to not add to the deforestation of lower limbs. Great day on and off trail!
Met two groups, both of which were heading out to Nancy for a winter ascent - great to meet and chat with everyone briefly!
Naturally, a write-up with color photography exists at the provided link, for those looking for a more substantial route description. Enjoy!
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|
 | Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
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 | E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-02-06 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.atalkinthewoods.com/trail-reports/duck-pond-mountain |
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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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