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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Sandwich Dome, NH
Trails
Trails: Algonquin Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail, Black Mountain Pond Trail, Guinea Pond Trail, Sandwich Notch Road
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, August 25, 2024
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Sandwich Notch Road between NH 49 and the Algonquin Trailhead has many deep potholes, so low clearance vehicles might have difficulty. There was only one other vehicle at Algonquin Trailhead when we arrived Sunday at 7:30am, and no others when we returned around 5pm. I think overall, it had room for 3-4 cars. There's a little bit of mud on the right end of this small lot. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Easy rock hopping. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Algonquin Trail is in great shape, pretty easy to follow. Near the bottom of Black Mountain Pond Trail, the 3-log bridge across one of the streams did not feel very sturdy. Some of the bog bridges have collapsed. On Black Mountain Pond Trail, there seemed to be no sign at the junction for the side path to Mary Cary Falls - it is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. After descending Black Mountain Pond Trail, going west on Guinea Pond Trail, a little after the trail turns left at a signed junction, there is an unmarked trail turning left; it'd be nice to know where that goes, or at least to have another sign there showing which way Guinea Pond Trail goes. A little after that, we ended up on the road alongside the power line, though we had wanted to stay on Guinea Pond Trail going west, which in hindsight probably went back into the woods to the north; again, better signage might help show where that happens and reduce confusion. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Algonquin Trail might be tricky with a dog, and the part of Black Mtn. Pond Trail above the pond is worse. 
Bugs
Bugs: A few flies at the summit, but they're not biting at this time of year. There were probably also a few mosquitoes, but I didn't really notice them. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We went up Algonquin Trail to the summit, and came down Black Mtn. Pond Trail and then west along Guinea Pond Trail (and the power line road), and finally northwest on Sandwich Notch Rd. back to our car.

I was expecting Algonquin Trail to be difficult, and Black Mtn. Pond Trail to be less difficult, given that only the former is a Terrifying 25 elective. But the most difficult scramble on Algonquin Trail was not actually so difficult, because there were plenty of handholds. There seemed to be more potential for injury descending Black Mtn. Pond Trail, on the multiple scrambles from the top down to the pond, even today when almost all the rocks were dry - near the top, if one accidentally slipped into the gaps between the huge boulders, one could get seriously injured. If doing this loop again, I would go up Black Mtn. Pond Trail and down Algonquin Trail for safety.

On Sunday afternoon, we saw (and especially heard) people shooting guns from the power line clearing right next to Sandwich Notch Rd; I found this more unnerving than any of the trails had been.  
Name
Name: mathbp 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2024-08-25 
Link
Link: https:// 
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