| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Pliny, West Pliny, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, October 18, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We parked road side of dirt surfaced Ingerson Road, just before the single lane bridge. This is a residential dirt road which any vehicle can drive. We were able to park the cars on the shoulder without impeding traffic. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No water crossings. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
List: NH 100 Highest, NH 500 Highest*
Trail type: abandoned trail, bushwhack
Jar/Canister: jar on Pliny, none on West Pliny
*Since there is no official NH 500 List, there may be some debate as to whether or not West Pliny peak counts towards any list. See my description below as to why I recommend traversing this peak regardless of list status.
Our journey began on the abandoned Priscilla Brook trail. The entry to this old trail is easily discerned from the road. This entry is VERY deceiving though as we were given false hope that this abandoned trail would stay so nice. In short order we encountered overgrown trail (expected) then a lot of mud. So much mud. This former trail is sopping wet. We fought through the mud until we reached numerous blowdowns. It is here that I really regret not following my gut instincts. We really should have retraced our steps and entered the woods from a lower point on the trail. But, alas, live and learn. The numerous blow downs turned into a nightmare of blowdowns. From here we elected to shoot a bearing and head for the summit of West Pliny.
Oh. They. Lord.
We fought for the better part of an hour through some serious Hobble bush (this is what I call it), or thick understory entangled in curved, spindly bush like trees that will slap your face, butt and legs in no particular order. This brush will trip you, rip off your hat and hold your poles hostage. The brush was also on a steep slope making it even more challenging to push through it. We had hoped that the Hobble bush would be in a band, but no. It continued to almost the summit. About 0.15 from the summit the woods suddenly open up and I tell you it is gorgeous up here. Nice, flat summit with barely restricted views to the Presidentials. No jar, but it was worth coming up here.
We could see Pliny through the trees and shot a bearing to the summit. The woods were wonderful between the peaks. So nice and open. Semi steep terrain that was easy to negotiate with the rapidly melting snow. An experienced bushwhacker would likely not even need a bearing (I am not encouraging carelessness) as the woods are open enough to see where you need to go. Some blow downs, no issue to negotiate. The summit has a nice jar and very restricted views.
OK. Here is my unsolicited advice: From Pliny, I would highly recommend that you retrace your footsteps back to West Pliny, then take the shoulder of West Pliny back down to almost the start of Priscilla Brook trail. It is easier to press through Hobble bush than what we had to hike through after coming down Pliny.
We decided to descend Pliny back down to the abandoned Priscilla Brook trail in the col between Pliny and the northern end of Waumbeck. Bad idea. It was nice woods down Pliny. The col was nice as well. Very pretty and open. There was no evidence that a trail ever existed through here. But it really was not an issue following our bearing through the col and beginning the descent from the height of land in this area. At about 3000 feet, the blow down h&ll began. Innumerable blow downs created nearly impassable obstacles. And just when we would find a route around them, we’d encounter boulder h&ll. Large and small hole between the rockss pepper the moss strewn landscape making it impossible to be sure if your next footstep would land on solid ground. Not only to the holes present ankle breaking opportunities, most of them were water filled. It took an inordinate amount of time to crawl through this section. More than an hour for a half mile section. I really , really don’t recommend this approach. If you don’t want to climb West Pliny, maybe consider crossing Priscilla Brook after the private property and walk through those woods to the col between Pliny and the northern tip of Waumbek.
After we managed to get through the rock and blow down swath, it was straight forward to follow the abandoned, soggy trail back to the cars.
Best of luck on these peaks! |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-10-20 |
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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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