| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Smarts Mountain, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Lambert Ridge Trail, Ranger Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, April 24, 2025 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking off of Dorchester Road. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All easy to hop across |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
See notes, below. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
Of concern to human health/annoyance: not really (some flies making noise near summit, but not interested in me or my food) |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Two gloves, not matching, left at trailhead. There was a Smith's grocery store bag with a pair of SnowTrax traction at the fire warden cabin. I left them there. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Small blowdown 3 miles up Lambert Ridge. A few bd's in-between the junction with the ranger trail and summit. 3 bd's right near the firetower. 2 bd's in-between summit and fire warden's cabin. One bd that needs attention on the Ranger Trail - a branchy beech (forget exactly where). There is maybe 1 hour of hand-sawing to be done all in all. If I had brought mine I would have done something.
Started off the day with some trilliums about to bloom just a few yards from the parking lot, then a sea of trout lilies emerging from the ground, spring beauties blooming, quartzite underfoot. Sun the whole way. Mostly dry rocks to step on. I took maybe 100 steps on snow near the top (yes I counted)—never needed to put on spikes. Also near the top? LOTS of moose poop. That unnerved me a little bit, considering that I was clearly the first on the trails today, with all the spiderwebs in my face. I never saw anyone while hiking, but there were 3 other cars in the lot when I got back. Coming down the Ranger Trail was gentle but muddy at times. The worst of the mud was in the last few minutes before I got back to the car. I plowed right through the middle of the trail at that point.
Low point? packing out trash from the old ranger cabin/shelter along Ranger Trail. There is more trash to be packed out, but I didn't have any more room. On the bright side, the fire warden cabin near the summit is looking great, ready to welcome all the AT folks! |
|
 | Name: |
Coraline K |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2025-04-24 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
