| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Little Sugarload, Goose Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Elwell Trail, Goose Pond Trail, Around the Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at the Elwell Trail parking area, across from Wellington State Park. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing of note. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All trails are in decent shape. Elwell Trail blazes are extremely faded or non-existent in some places, especially on/near ledges, where the route/corridor is not obvious. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Apparently, the Elwell Trail parking area is now a depository for bags of dog feces that owners don't see the need to take with them. We watched a bag for a good half hour, and then another hour; it did not magically walk itself into a trash can. (Sigh.) |
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 | Bugs: |
Some mosquitoes near any shaded wet areas; not a big deal, though. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A fine quick morning loop -- hadn't been on this section of Elwell Trail for well over a year (almost two years?), when we did our last Elwell traverse to Mt. Cardigan.
We noted that a large stepover blowdown that had been on the Goose Pond Trail for over a decade has now been removed! (Someone a few years back had at least tried to notch it with an axe, but gave up after a while.)
On that same trail, near the pond we (almost) ran into a juvenile bear; had to a wait a bit to make sure it didn't have relatives around, and then we walked past it. It moved off about 10 yards, stood up on its hind legs, and watched us as we walked by -- it was quite curious.
The Around the Pond Trail appears to be getting some attention -- it's been brushed and is very tidy now.
OH -- and blueberries on the Around the Pond Trail...!
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-07-23 |
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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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