| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Daniels Hill Road, Whitcomb's Mill Road, Cheshire Rail Trail, Island Street, Emerald Street, Ashuelot Rail Trail, Matthews Road, Sawyer Crossing Road, NH 32, Oliver Hill Road, unknown roads, Fox Run Road, Water Street, NH 12, Quarry Road |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 25, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We met at the Old Troy Dept at 8:30am (one other car there and room for over a dozen) but decided to drive a bit further to hike a bit more and checked out the parking on Quarry Rd. Parking situation wasn't great so we spotted a car just a tenth or two of a mile up Quarry Rd in a dirt turnaround. We then drove over to the Horatio Colony Lot (small, room for just a few cars) and began our hike there. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing that wasn't bridged on the main trails. An insignificant drainage or two while we were off trail. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The WMT is marked with blue diamonds with a white outline |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure. Saw a few. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
What an absolute clusterf*$%!!! A friend and I had planned a car spot to get this section of the WMT for redlining SNH but after a stop at Starbucks in Keene (a short detour for a nice bathroom!) we enjoyed each others conversation so much that it took us a few miles to realize that we'd gone the wrong way and were on the Ashuelot Rail Trail...oops!! The hike was going to be even longer if we turned around, so we continued on, to Matthews Rd and followed the series of roads listed above with a short bushwhack through open woods with lots of old logging roads back to the Cheshire Rail Trail/WMT. We were lucky to not run into posted land! 17.25mi, 750ft of gain, 7 hrs for what should have been a 13mi hike. The best part is we've still got a roughly 4mi section of trail we missed plus lots more of the WMT to still do...oh goody ;P There were sections of a think layer of snow/ice but the trails and roads were largely free of snow and ice. The vast majority of people will not stop to put on microspikes for these sections. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-01 |
|
 | 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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