| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Wantastiquet-Monadnock Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 17, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We spotted a car at Horatio Colony around 8:30am. No real parking area, just some room for a few cars in front of a gate. I'd try to park conscientiously so that others can get in. We were the only ones there at 8:30 and 4pm. We were the only ones at the end Stones Mill Rd as well at 9:30am and 4:30pm. Old Swanzey Rd very quickly turns to dirt. It starts off pretty firm but soon enough becomes quite soft. AWD will be fine with care. 2WD may be a struggle. Stones Mill Rd was actually firmer. Make sure to bear right at a fork. Room for a few cars at the trailhead. It's posted against parking there at night. |
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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: |
Most were bridged. The most difficult areas to cross were probably those flooded (sometimes by beavers) that weren't exactly a stream crossing but didn't have bridges yet either. One just a few miles into the hike where we crossed on top of some beaver damming that was not particularly stable. There was a spot just down stream that may have been easier as well. Another crossing which we suspected was new was just a few minutes after this one and had two large trees placed across it to help you get across. Not difficult but some may be unnerved with this if you've got balance issues. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Other than some easy stepovers and widow makers, I don't think there were any major obstructions on trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
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 | Bugs: |
None but I heard one yesterday and my friend said she had something fly into her eye yesterday that looked like a black fly! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
The WMT is marked with blue diamonds with a white outline. The trail was pretty consistently marked with these throughout (even if not frequent) with the exception of on the Horatio Colony Trails where they were primarily marked with the blaze color of the specific trail in Horatio Colony. Yellow for Bailey Brook, white for Ridgeline, and red for Red Diamond Trail. I believe all turns were marked at least in some way though we still managed to miss a few. Some are sharp turns and while obvious enough, you need to be looking up to notice.
2nd SNH redline of the day, this one with a friend. We redlined what was my final section of the WMT starting at the end of Stones Mill Rd and ending at Horatio Colony. Overall, I did not find this "long trail" of particular interest. As expected, much of it was road walking or low elevation woods walking without much in the way of views along the way. The campsites we did come across (which did not seem like many) seemed primitive and often placed further away from the trail than seemed necessary (and sometimes took very circuitous routes to them). Also, there were parts of the trail today that were incredibly overgrown and given that this is how they look in winter, it's hard to imagine how there'd be any discernible trail in summer. At times, the route seemed to be rather random through the woods (redliners of the WMG think of Westside Trail in Crawford Notch).
As seems to be typical of us lately, we missed some turns and had to backtrack some. The good news was that this time we noticed relatively quickly compared to our botched previous hike where we went 3-4mi down the Ashuelot Rail Trail before noticing. There was lots of water running down the trail at times in the first couple of miles. It then seemed to be a drier overall but with severely flooded sections. Granted one or two of these were when we'd missed a turn. I think all turns were marked quite well but some were sharp and somehow or another we managed to miss them so do keep an eye out to be sure you're on route and see the WMT markers often enough. In particular, make sure not to miss the Bailey Brook Trail turoff which, despite it being quite obvious, we still managed to do. The trail is quite well blazed in yellow from there with just the rare WMT marker thrown in to let you know you're still on it. This trail felt way longer than 1.3mi. There was a tentsite spur on Ridgeline Trail that's arguably needed for redlining that was about a 1/4mi off trail which was a bit of a pain. There's one much earlier on in the trail as well that's shorter but still takes a very roundabout route to get to it. Great view from Red Diamond Trail which was all we had for views all day though the beaver ponds were nice. The house of Horatio Colony at the bottom was an unexpected and cool surprise which we checked out. The trails in the preserve generally seemed less muddy. We didn't get rained on much but the sun took its sweet time coming out again in the afternoon once it did. Gaia had us at just over 12mi, about 1350ft of gain. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney and Peak Dancer, Hater of Bushwhacks |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-19 |
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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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