| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Fullam Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Stones Mill Road, Beal's Road, Beal's Knob Trail, Beal's Knob Summit Spur, Fullam Pond Trail, Nash Trail, Old Chesterfield Road, Nash Trail Spur, Old Horseshoe Road, Hubbard Hill Trail, South Woods Trail, Habitat Trail, Old Swanzey Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 9, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the jct of Old Swanzey Rd and Stones Mill Rd. I believe that beyond Zinn Rd, Old Swanzey Rd becomes dirt. At first, it was surprisingly firm but it soon got muddy. Not too bad at first, but beyond the start of Fullam Pond Rd, it got worse. In the morning, AWD felt quite sufficient (not sure how 2WD would have done) but around 5:30pm as I was driving back out and it had begun to rain/snow, the road, to my suprise, felt much softer and AWD was even a bit of a struggle. I'd hate to see what it looks like today after last night's rain. I'd wait at least a couple of days before trying to drive it. That being said, it is residentail though. There's room for at least a couple cars at the jct of Old Swanzey and Stones Mill Rd where I parked. Not much of a place to park at the start of Fullam Pond Trail and the guidebook says to ask permission from the landowner before doing so, so I opted not to park there. Parking on Stones Mill Rd at the start of Beal's Rd should be fine (I don't think that road was any muddier) but this broke up the road walk for me. Also, note that a sign indicates that there's no parking past sundown at the Beal's Rd trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, 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: |
All crossings were either bridged or rock hopable. Even with high water, the causeway on Fullam Pond Trail is WAY above the water level so no worries there unless you somehow lost your balance and found yourself in the spillway ;P That being said, with another deluge of rain last night, the last stream crossing on Fullam Pond Trail before it meets South Woods Trail could be tricky now. Yesterday, it was rock hopable but today I would imagine it's not. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I believe all trails were marked with white diamonds, sometimes with the name of the trail/road inside of it. Habitat Trail, presumably since it coincided with other trails, was marked with yellow circles with its name inside of it instead. I think some trails might have been marked with blue diamonds too; this may have just been on the abandoned sections of South Woods Trail though. Turns are often indicated by the arrows turned sideways. Markings were not necessarily all that frequent but sufficed since the trails are just roads. I believe all signage was intact. Other than trivial stepovers and one massive widowmaker high above Fullam Pond Trail just north of its jct with Nash Trail, I don't recall much. Just one massive but delimbed duck under across Nash Trail maybe 10min from its northern terminus that will be quite a job to remove. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Another SNH redline in Pisgah State Park before last night's deluge of rain. One more mega-hike in this part should clean up the rest of these trails for me. Yesterday's whacky redlining route: Stone's Mill Rd -> Beal's Rd --> Beal's Knob Trail --> OAB on Beal's Knob Summit Spur --> Beal's Knob Trail --> OAB on Beal's Rd between the two ends of Beal's Knob Trail --> Beal's Rd --> Fullam Pond Tr --> Nash Trail --> right onto Old Chesterfield Rd --> right onto road that leads to Fullam Pond parking area in 0.2mi --> OAB left/north on Fullam Pond Tr to South Woods and Nash Tr jct --> OAB on Nash Tr Spur --> back along road that leads to Fullam Pond parking area in 0.2mi --> right on Old Chesterfield Rd --> right on Old Horseshoe Rd to South Woods Tr --> OAB on Old Horseshoe Rd to parking area --> OAB on Hubbard Hill Tr (Old Horseshoe Rd Connector??) to Winchester Rd --> South Woods Tr --> OAB on Habitat Trail and Spur to Marsh Overlook (part of abandoned SW fork of South Woods Tr) --> OAB on Spur to Wildlife Viewing Platform/rerouted section of South Woods Tr --> South Woods Tr --> left on Fullam Pond Tr --> right onto Old Swanzey Rd back to car.
All spurs, some of which are needed, some of which are not for redlining, I called by their name as described in the guidebook. The SW fork of South Woods Trail is clearly abandoned. Don't plan on doing it for redlining; you'd be swimming ;P Cool spot to check out though (take Habitat Tr and the spur to the marsh overlook) and note where the trail used to go and how quickly brush has grown up over the dilapidated bog bridges. Habitat Trail appears to be new. Note that Nash Trail is shown on Gaia but not with a name. It's the unnamed road (south) that diverges from Old Chesterfiled Rd just east f Dogwood Swamp Trail, then trail east of Fullam Pond Trail. Lots of large puddles and mud of course but all quite negotiable. There was at least one recent looking reroute that appears to be put in place to avoid the flooded areas. I think the only snow/ice seen was some on ponds; nothing on trail. Gaia had me at 16.5mi, 1250ft of gain, 6.5hrs. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-10 |
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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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