| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Grafton Knob, Crane Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Orange Road, Eben's Loop, Skyland Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 2, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We parked just off of Orange Road, near Alexandria Four Corners, careful to not block any driveways, etc. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing of note -- everything is quite dry. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The four Skyland Trail blowdowns we reported a bit over a week ago are now removed, as are some others we encountered; see notes, below. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Almost nothing -- a deer fly, perhaps? One mosquito? |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We headed out today to take care of the blowdowns we previously reported on Skyland Trail between Orange Mountain and Crane Mountain. We got those, and ended up taking out several more on the section east of the Woodland Trail intersection, some that had been there for a few years. Everything is lovely now on the trail between Eben's Loop intersection and Orange Mountain.
In addition, we brushed this section of Skyland Trail -- between Eben's Loop and just east of Orange Mountain, and re-built some toppled cairns. Everything is SUPER lovely now.
We also cut a relo just east of the base of Crane Mountain, where the trail used to climb a steep, eroded pitch. Trail now avoids this steep pitch by making a left-hand turn on a flat section that then climbs easily northwest and then northeast, before re-joining trail at top of steep, eroded pitch. Relocated trail is marked with orange flagging tape, in some cases probably overflagged, to make sure it can followed easily before it gets blazed. That just made the trail even MORE SUPER LOVELY, if that can even be believed.
We met a solo hiker on Skyland on Crane Mountain, who had come up via Woodland from the AMC Lodge, and then a couple of nice folks with well-behaved dogs who had come in from Alexandria Four Corners -- just when we were almost finished with the relo -- they got to christen it.
A fine, cool, dry day today. 45 degrees at 7:00 am -- at 1:00 pm, not even 70 degrees. |
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney and Alex&Ria |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-08-02 |
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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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