| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monadnock (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Marlboro Trail, Marian Trail, Mossy Brook Trail, Cart Path, Old Half Way House Trail, Half Way House Road, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, August 11, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We spotted my friends car at Dublin trailhead, then drove over to Marlboro trailhead where the three of us started. The road to Marlboro Trail is narrow and rough though any car would probably be fine with care. The road in to Dublin is also dirt but is wider and easier to drive on. Note, however, that if coming in Old Troy Rd from the east, there's a downed tree atop the road that I wasn't quite sure my Buick Encore would fit under so we drove around Old Marlboro Rd to Rt 124 and came in from the west instead. |
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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: |
Readily Rock hopable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I don't recall any blowdowns but that doesn't mean there aren't any. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs may scramble with the bit of scambling on Marlboro Trail we encountered though it's pretty easy scrambling. All the other trails should be doable for most dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
They only really bothered us when we stopped at the jct of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail and Cart Path. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Marlboro Trail is blazed in white and occasional white M's painted on the ledge. Marian Trail is marked with yellow disks on trees. Mossy Brook and Cart Path are both marked with yellow rectangles tacked to trees, Old Half Way House Trail is not blazed but not hard to follow, and the road is obviously not marked. I don't recall any blowdowns but that doesn't mean there aren't any. There is no signage at the jct of Marlboro and Marian trails: just a large cairn with the trail names painted on the ground.
This was supposed to be the penultimate hike to finish up all the trails on the south side of Monadnock but alas Lil Young had what was likely an encounter with plantar fasciitis and we cut it short. Our route: Marlboro Trail --> Marian Trail --> Mossy Brook Trail --> Cart Path to Half Way House Rd and back to Old Halfway House Trail --> Old Half Way House Trail to Half Way House Rd --> OAB on White Arrow Trail to Side Foot Trail --> Old Half Way House Trail to start of trail and road --> Old Half Way House Rd (along here is where we decided to cut it short and just head back) --> Cart Path --> Mossy Brook Trail --. Marian Trail --> Marlboro Trail.
The two of us had the pleasure of another SNH redlining friend up until we intersected the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail. Marlboro Trail begins gradually but becomes quite steep and rough about 3/4mi in up until its jct with Marian Trail. Lots of views as you begin to near Marian Trail though. Marian Trail is marked but lightly travelled and could be hard for novices to follow. This and Mossy Brook Trail are quite scenic though. Marian Trail is a little rough at times with the footing perhaps but the further south we went, the easier the trails seemed to get. It was a pleasure to run into Larry who's back in his element on Monadnock after being in Gorham for several years; I didn't even realize he'd left us! On our way back, around the jct of Great Pasture Trail with Mossy Brook and Marian Trail, Marian Trail takes a sharp right (if heading north) that's easy to miss and Lil Young continued ahead on a herd path toward a cairn that was likely a small viewpoint many years ago. We took this opportunity to bushwhack around this cool area just a bit looking for a view (unsuccessful, just a cool bouldery area) and around a bog.
The trails, overall, weren't crazy muddy, but it was good to see some water again after so long. Gaia had us at 7.8mi 2100ft of gain. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney and Lil Young |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-08-12 |
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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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