| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Hedgehog Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
UNH Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 14, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The lot is plowed and was not super-muddy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There really aren’t water crossings on this loop hike but the large drainages are moving a LOT of water right now, after the rains of the past few days, and with these warm temperatures. Everything is a rock hop. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I am the trail maintainer and removed a record 15 blowdowns. (My Silky Saw is so happy!!). There is one large one that I reported to the Forest Service for the professional (chainsaw) crew; it is at least a 2’ diameter and is about 0.2 miles up the East side of the loop (from the loop junction). This massive beast took out 5 trees when it came down; I cleared 4 of them and a lot of brush. There is one more small stepover that I will get the next time that I am out there. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I saw a few. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I hiked counterclockwise today; I highly recommend both directions. Trail conditions are abysmal as there is up to 2’ of snow on this route; it is inconsistent and there are long stretches of mud and bare rock, as well. All of the usual wet spots are super wet right now. There really isn’t monorail as most of this snow is new in the past 2 weeks. The center of the trail is stable maybe 60% of the time. Snowshoes would not be helpful, at this point, as there are extensive bony sections and deep postholes. I wore winter gators, trail runners, rock spikes and waterproof socks, and all of that worked really well. I saw about two dozen people and I do have the following general SAFETY advice. If you come across a trail volunteer using a hand saw to remove a blowdown, it is wise to heed the request “Please give me a moment” when the volunteer is in the middle of a cut. It would also be appreciated if you would control your dog because saws are long and sharp and it’s a lot to ask of a volunteer to juggle a long and sharp saw and try to fend off your dog. Additionally, if you insist that you cannot wait for the trail volunteer to finish cutting the log and you absolutely must pass, please don’t step ON the log that the volunteer is cutting, while the volunteer’s saw is in the log. Lastly, if you come across a trail volunteer heaving a cut log off a trail, kindly WAIT until the volunteer has heaved the log off the trail before you push past the volunteer.
It’s all about safety, people. Trail volunteer safety, your safety and your dog’s safety. If you are in such an incredible hurry that you can’t do the safe thing, for everyone involved, please consider waiting until the snow melts and trail conditions allow you to hike off trail to get around a volunteer with a saw.
Thanks. |
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 | Name: |
Bikecamphikegirl |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-14 |
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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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