| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Howe Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Shelburne Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, January 27, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The summer lot for Shelburne Trail is 0.9 miles up Lady Trooper Lane, just over the Maine border. This road is not maintained for winter travel. Unsure of road conditions, I elected to park in the plowed snowmobile parking lot, just before the Lady Trooper Lane rd. I was able to drive in a bit to get away from US 2. I parked near the snowmobile route. The road to the trailhead is free from blowdowns, you decide if the risk is worth the payoff. I think higher clearance vehicles with good snow tires should be able to drive to the summer trailhead at the time of this writing. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Several hop over small crossings that were open. The only larger water crossing was completely frozen over. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trail for dogs, but as it’s seldom used, they will have to negotiate unbroken trail. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Out and back on Shelburne Trail to junction with Kenduskeag Trail.
The forest road is walkable in any winter footwear to the gate.
Shelburne Trail: this lightly used trail is sparsely blazed in yellow after the forest road. The forest road portion is about 2 miles and simple to follow. Though technically a former road, it was still covered in 4-5 inches of unbroken snow. The turn where the trail goes into the woods is marked with an arrow sign and cairn. Cairn barely visible under the snow. As this trail is not used in winter, snowshoes required. Leave spikes at home. I broke trail for the entirety. The corridor was wide and simple to follow. See water crossing notes above. The grade is moderate, peppered with some steeper pitches that are short lived. Snow depths well over 12 inches past 1800 feet in elevation.
At the junction with the Kenduskeag, I elected to not go onto Shelburne Moriah mountain. I was too smoked from breaking 4 miles of untouched trail. Thus, I elected to bushwhack out to Mt Howe and was not disappointed. Super glad I took the time to explore this mountain.
If you’re looking for posthole and rototill free trail (not to mention total lack of people), this is your trail. You only have to finish breaking out to Shelburne Moriah to get the excellent view from that “52 With a View” peak. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-01-27 |
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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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