| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Pack Monadnock , NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Marion Davis Trail, Boston View Spur, Spruce Knoll Trail, Summit Loop, Raymond Trail, Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 30, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We spotted a car on East Mtn Rd at the Raymond trailhead (room for just a few cars in a small dirt lot but room for more at Cranberry Meadow Pond as the guidebook indicates) then drove over to Miller State Park where there’s a $4/person (not vehicle) charge to park and tons of parking. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Easily rock hopable even with high water. Some bridges too on Raymond Trail. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
two old, large, widow makers/leaners |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure but dogs must be leashed in Miller State Park.
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|
 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Marion Davis Trail is blazed in blue triangles. Other than , I don’t recall much in terms of blowdowns. Good signage. A few small, easy, stepovers on Spruce Knoll Trail which I think was mostly marked with yellow arrows inside of green diamonds. The loop jct is not terribly obvious and is only signed (but is very easy to walk by) on its eastern end. The footpath is also not well defined. Summit Loop is marked with red dots fairly frequently but is still not always obvious. Raymond Trail is blazed in white triangles. Small, newer looking, trivial stepover maybe about halfway down, and a couple trivial larger stepover a further down. The trail was signed as is Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail which was marked with blue diamonds with a white outline just like the Wantastiquet-Monadnock Trail which messed with me.
A great SNH redline with mom :) I’d say this finishes up redlining Pack Monadnock for me but in my infinite stupidity I somehow managed to miss part of Summit Loop (the entire eastern side) thinking that I’d done it before and only needed a tiny piece. Not true and had I not had tunnel vision when looking at Gaia, I would have noticed this! Oh well.
We ascended Marion Davis Trail, did an OAB on Spruce Knoll Trail, hiked across the summit on Summit Loop, and descended Raymond Trail. Marion Davis Trail was almost entirely free of snow/ice and what there was was not worth bringing spikes for. Of course I say this as it’ll be snow covered in less than 48hrs. Snow was pretty minimal on Spruce Knoll Trail too though there was a section where the snow was harder and the trail narrow so we stomped down on it hard for traction. The Summit Loop had some ice to be careful of but not worth putting on spikes until we started down Raymond Trail. The snow/ice covered the trail at times and thought was on and off at times, I’d recommend keeping them on until you get down to the hardwoods. Both trails were as described in the guidebook though I would note that Marion Davis was a bit more rocky/rough with the footing than I would’ve guessed. On our way down Raymond Trail we did an OAB on Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail to the alternate parking area. Some very wet and lucky sections in here as there was throughout the hike though there were also long dry sections. The spur to the cascade was obvious enough but not signed. I think it may be 0.7mi into the trail rather than 0.8mi.
Lastly, Spruce Knoll Trail, though lightly travelled, is quite beautiful and also offers a terrific view at the end of it that’s going to be way less crowded than the summit area.I forgot to start Gaia when we started but with the extra mileage added on, I think it should have had us at about 4.25mi, 1000ft of gain. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-01 |
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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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