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NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Jennings Peak, Sachem Peak, Acteon Ridge, Bald Knob, NH
Trails
Trails: Smarts Brook Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail, Jennings Peak Spur, herd paths, bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, September 30, 2024
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking at Smarts Brook trailhead, maybe 8 cars there when I left. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None that I recall, maybe a few minor ones on Smarts Brook, there was mud I remember. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: None, but I thought perhaps there should be an arrow pointing where the trail turns off a road in the lower part of SB trail, I only saw a small cairn marking it.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: After looking at this ridge on google earth, it was begging to be hiked. I took Smarts Brook Trail up to Jennings Peak, from the lookout there Sachem Peak can be seen way down below. I bushwhacked off the spur trail through some brief thick sections, but mostly open woods and I made it to Sachem Peak in about 45 minutes. Once on Sachem, the herd path appeared in the reindeer moss. I'd call it a hobbit path actually because there was lots of ducking needed to get through. The woods to the north of the ridge were nice and open, but I wanted to stay high and enjoy all the lookouts, and it was worth it. In between the peaks it was hard to stay on my bearing with just a compass going downhill with no view, (but I imagine it might be easier if one went uphill). No registers found, but I was in a hurry and more interested in the views anyway. From Bald Knob I found a rock climber's path that was on the bearing I was going to take anyway, and I made good time back to the lower trails. I crossed other paths in this lower part, even saw mountain bikers, but I stayed on my bearing here and bushwhacked across these trails the shortest way back to Smarts Brook trail. About 10 miles and 4.5 hours for this trip.  
Name
Name: Carl Gifford 
E-Mail
E-Mail: calxjohnson@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2024-10-01 
Link
Link: https:// 
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