| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Caesar (Swanzey), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Tower Trail, Elijah’s Epic Summit Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 25, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I believe there are two ways to enter into the cemetery. I entered the southernmost one shown on Gaia, then turned right on the connecting piece of road shown on Gaia begweeen the north and south entrances and found the parking area there. Mid-sized parking area with room for about a dozen cars or so. One other when I arrived at 10:30am and one other when I left at 11:30am. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Tower Trail (the route described in the 5th Ed of the SNH trail guide) is marked with red and Elijah’s Epic Summit Trail is marked with yellow. I do not remember how frequent the markings were but not all jcts were signed. Generally speaking, it seemed like trails were signed at the base and at the summit, but in between, jcts were merely marked with the blazed colors diverging with arrows. I do not recall any blowdowns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trails for dogs and I don’t recall any restrictions against them. |
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 | Bugs: |
I used bug spray and I don’t recall them being too bad. I’d worry about ticks in the cemetery but I used 15% DEET and didn’t find any on me. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
First hike of the day full of SNH redlining “clean-up”. I was dismayed to find that the trails have changed since the 5th Ed of the guidebook was published. It appears that the route described in the guidebook is now what’s called Tower Trail though. As the guidebook described, the old road can be wet and muddy but nothing too severe. Eroded but not awful walking and a moderate ascent. Pass by a glacial erratic in the woods to your left just before reaching the tower. Some views from here and the surrounding ledges. The 75yd view spur described in the guidebook has become Elijah’s Epic Summit Trail. Take a sharp right from the ledges to get on it. It’s a bit obscure as I believe there was another herd path in the area and I wasn’t sure which to take at first though there’s a small sign a short ways in. Elijah’s Epic Summit Trail is shorter and steeper though not excessively so and with no scrambling. It was dry.
Note that you can either access Tower Trail as described in the guidebook, or, from the parking area facing the kiosk, take a right toward the north entrance to the cemetery, then turn left on that road, pass a white building and you’ll see it shortly. There are two other trails on the mountain, Theresa’s Trail and Quarry Trail. I only felt the need to do Tower Trail as it’s what was described in the guidebook (and took Elijah’s Epic Summit Trail for variety and because it’s shorter on the way down) but rumor has it they all could be in the next edition…
Gaia had me at 1.7mi, 400ft of gain, 45min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-27 |
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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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