| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Cap, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Middle Mountain Trail, Black Cap Connector, Black Cap Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, April 2, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room at the Thompson Street lot for Pudding Pond. There are signs warning not to park on the road. This lot is also used by dog walkers, joggers, and mountain bikers. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All water crossings are easy. The most difficult crossing was a shallow 3-4 ft wide stream running down the Middle Mountain Trail. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are a number of large trees across the Black Cap Connector. It wasn't difficult to get by these obstructions. One tree in the area of many blowdowns a few years ago is about 3 feet above the path surface. This tree is most easily passed by going into the open woods to step over the tree.
The blazes on the Black Cap Connector are bright.
There are many disturbed surfaces on the Black Cap Connector beginning at the Mason Brook junction and extending uphill. There are dislodged rocks, loose root ends, and hummocky dirt on many pitched slopes. I saw a wide tread mark to the side of the trail in one of these spots.
Water is running down the trail in many places. There appeared to be no diversion ditches. Some low spots have standing water.
The trail signage for the hiking trail at the junction with the snowmobile trail above the Mason Brook Trail is missing. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
There was the usual hodgepodge of trail conditions in the transition season. Dry trail, running and standing water on the trail, some ice and frozen slush, snow, and mud. Thankfully, the cooler temperatures translated to firm snow surfaces, so the snowshoes came along for the ride. Most of the mud had a stiff consistency. On a few occasions the snow/ice layer broke with my boot falling a short distance to the underlying water. The snow depth was never more than a foot and most often less. I would estimate that over half the distance was dry leaves on the pathway.
Nice views from the summit of Black Cap especially of the Presidential Range. I wandered around on a side trail on mostly ledges near the summit.
Met two people on the Black Cap Connector; one from Bartlett via Moscow Russia and the other from Westwood MA. I was expecting to see nobody. |
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 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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 | E-Mail: |
WAUMBEK@Roadrunner.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-04-02 |
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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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