| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Doublehead, South Doublehead, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Doublehead Ski Trail, Old Path, New Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 18, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room in the parking area off Dundee Road in Jackson. Two other vehicles upon my arrival at 10 AM, three others there when I got back at 1:20. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The larger one at the start has a bridge. All others are trivial. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No blowdowns. The lower section of Doublehead Ski Trail (i.e. below the junction with Old Path) is very wet and muddy in many places. Signs are all in place. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one. No issues. |
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 | Bugs: |
I put bug spray (with lots of DEET) on at the trailhead, and I wasn't bothered much by them. I saw a few more during the final half-mile of the hike, but they never got annoying. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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|
 | Comments: |
This was a fun hike - short, but with plenty of vertical gain and nice views. The lower section of Doublehead Ski Trail, up to the junction with Old Path, is wet and muddy in many places, and has beaten paths on both sides of the ski trail to avoid the mud. Past the junction with Old Path, the wetness and mud decrease in quantity and gradually disappear. The Ski Trail is a moderate climb for most of its length, with only a couple of steeper sections, and the footing is generally good, but it's a relentless climb with no real breaks until the summit. The view from North Doublehead was nice - I could see Carter Notch clearly, and the summit of Carter Dome was in the open but the summit of Washington was in the clouds. The descent off North Doublehead via Old Path is quite steep, and caution is needed - the worst of the slippery rocks were in this section. The climb up to South Doublehead is more moderate and has generally better footing. The viewpoints on South Doublehead were all excellent, particularly the one right at the top of the climb from the col - I had lunch there. Saw several other groups of hikers in that area, all enjoying themselves. They reported that New Path is still just as steep and gravelly as I remembered it (IMO it's less pleasant than Old Path or the ski trail). I descended Old Path - it's quite steep in places, but the footing isn't terrible and I didn't think it was that bad. Enjoyable day! |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-05-18 |
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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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