| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Flat Mountain Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Flat Mountain Pond Trail, Bennett Street Trail, Gleason Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, December 23, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Drove all the way to summer Bennett Street trailhead. Would not have done this without AWD and probably would not do it after very much more snow. Friend drive me up to FMPT parking on Whiteface Intervale Road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
So many water crossings. Most difficult was Whiteface River. After much searching, I donned my waders and forded it. More in comments... |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Only 6 or 7 blowdowns, all of which are easy stepovers. Had to search a bit for the trail near Flat Mountain Pond (designated wilderness/few markings), but it was pretty straight forward and not difficult to stay on route. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Most dogs are smart enough not to cross Whiteface River right now. Haha |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Did this hike counter clockwise. Minus 9 degrees driving to trailhead but warmed up to around 0 by start of hike.
Bare booted to Whiteface River crossing (mile 1.6). Searched upstream... searched downstream... but found no frozen over ice bridges. Having anticipated this probability, I brought my Wiggy's Waders. I put those on, with spikes, and forded the river successfully. Yay. All told, this crossing took about a half hour. Boo.
Once again bare booted to about a mile before Flat Mountain Pond. Snowshoes from this point to the end. There were many more water crossings, but in contrast to Whiteface River, they were easier and Wiggy's were not needed.
The snowshoeing was easy and lovely. I followed a coyote for a long time, plus foxes and bunnies here and there. Checked out the shelter, which obviously had been visited over the weekend. From here on out there was prior foot traffic, but I kept snowshoes on because it was easier and makes for a nicer trail.
At the "four way" I took a left down Bennett Street Trail and enjoyed the frozen cascades, especially picturesque Great Falls. Then it was up Gleason and back to FMPT to the trailhead. (This squiggle was to pick up the piece of Bennett Street Trail I missed last winter.)
Lovely day in the woods in a very quiet corner of the Whites. |
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 | Name: |
Snowflea |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-24 |
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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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