| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Blue Job Mountain, Little Blue Job Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Tower Loop North, Fire Tower Loop, Pond Trail, unknown paths, Little Blue Job Trail, Scruton Trail, Perimeter Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 16, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Dirt parking area for over a dozen cars on First Crown Point Rd in Strafford. It had overflowed significantly around 12:15pm and was only a little better by 2:15pm. Lots of people parking on the road which seemed reasonable. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Either all bridged or trivial. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The Firetower Loop is blazed in orange (not that faded; maybe it's gotten a fresher coat since the last guidebook?). The guidebook says that Pond Trail is unblazed by I found occasional white blaze on it along with cairns. I believe it was the same case with Little Blue Job Trail. Not so sure Scruton Trail was blazed. Trails are signed at their start but not at jcts with herd paths so it can be confusing nonetheless. Particularly frustrating was a large sign at the jct of Little Blue Job and Pond trails 0.2mi from the summit that indicated Pond Trail (which I thought I'd been diligently following) was another direction (the same direction Little Blue Job Trail was). It is kind of nonsensical since it's a jct and the trails sign points the same way for two different trails that don't coincide at that point. Just trust yourself that you correctly followed Pond Trail. Other than trivial stepovers, there was just one small blowdown that I recall with some of its branches extending into Tower Loop North a few mins from the trailhead that could be cut back or moved. From an erosion standpoint many of the trails could use some love. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure. Saw few out. |
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 | Bugs: |
I heard one buzzing by me once! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
2nd SNH redline of the day after Mooers Loop with the parents. The trailheads are close by so these are good ones to do together. I did not approach via Scruton Rd as I hear that can be pretty muddy/rough though it did not look bad from Scruton Trail. My route: Tower Loop North --> Fire Tower Loop --> Pond Trail --> OAB on small section of Little Blue Job Trail and unknown trails to the south --> Little Blue Job Trail to Old Canney Rd and back to --> Scruton Trail to Scruton Rd and back to --> Perimeter Rd --> OAB on Little Blue Job Trail north from here to pond --> Little Blue Job Trail (south) --> Tower Loop North.
I refer to the Firetower Loop in its component parts as seen on the map on pg 313 of the guidebook rather than by their trail name description "Fire Tower Loop" on pg 314. You'll note that I somehow managed to not hike the south part of the loop and not realize it!! Kind of pathetic...anyway the trails overall were much drier than others but there was a severe mud pit or two nonetheless. Also, the rocks on the southern side of Pond Trail were often quite slick. The area in between Litte Blue Job and Blue Job is quite nice with some nice woods closer to the latter and ledge closer to the former but the mess of trails is very confusing for a redliner. Pay close attention to the guidebook description, in particular for Little Blue Job when it says "...bears right at a prominent fork, and then reaches a 4-way junction...Little Blue Job Trail turns left here". That right and left are totally unmarked and you'd have no way of knowing that's the way to go without the guidebook so if redlining, make careful note of that. Happy to send my Gaia track if it would help someone.
Great views from the firetower! Gaia had me at 4.6mi, 800ft of gain, 2hr5min. Add about 1mi, 350ft of gain had I also done the south end of the fire tower loop as I'd meant to! |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-18 |
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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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