| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Belknap Mountain, Mt. Klem, Mt. Rand, Mt. Mack, NH |
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 | Trails: |
East Gilford Trail, Boulder Trail, Round Pond-Piper Link, Mt. Klem-Mt. Mack Loop, Round Pound-Mt. Mack Loop, Round Pond Trail, East Gilford Fire Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 4, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was car #4 in the five-car lot on Wood Rd. When I got back, there were also four cars there (not the same other vehicles though). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing significant. The bridge that takes Round Pond Trail over Poorfarm Brook right at its junction with East Gilford Fire Road feels a little bit unstable though. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Mostly good. The trail work that's gone into these trails is much appreciated. A few blowdowns, including one on the upper Round Pond Trail that has a herd path around it. There were some mudpits, but overall drainage wasn't too bad for early May. Signs are present, though the arrows aren't always pointing in the proper directions. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I saw a few. Boulder Trail has some very rough talus-hopping and some steep, slippery slabs, but besides that they should be fine. |
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 | Bugs: |
They're starting to come out. They weren't too annoying for me yet, but other hikers were using bug spray. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Trails in generally good condition. Trail work on East Gilford Trail was clear where it was rerouted to avoid some steep, slippery slabs. However, there are still plenty of steep, slippery slabs on Boulder Trail that were not easy to get down. Until they dry out, the options are basically to either buttslide or go wide around the slabs. The talus field further down on Boulder Trail was luckily dry. Round Pond is beautiful, and the viewpoint just below the summit of Klem is stunning. Did the out-and-back to Rand to complete my 4th round of the Belknap 12 - Dave Roberts Quarry Trail is definitely rougher than most other trails in the Belknaps, and there were a couple of wet slabs on the Klem side and then the very steep climb up Rand that required caution. The climb up to Mack is more gradual, and I appreciated the generally moderate descents off Mack and then down from Round Pond. The portion of Round Pond Trail between East Gilford Trail and the junction with the Fire Road follows a narrow corridor between two large logging cuts, and briefly follows a new logging road, but is well marked.
The hikers I met today started their hikes from no fewer than four different trailheads. We all agreed that the Belknaps are an amazing place to explore, especially this time of year when the 4000-footers further north still have messy trail conditions. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-04 |
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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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