| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bear Mountain (Hebron) -- Northwest Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Welton Falls Trail (North), Elwell Trail, bushwack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, September 1, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for several vehicles near the trailhead on Valley View Road. Make sure to use the current trailhead, which is well signed at the start, next to the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Leaves -- slippery, early fall leaf drop from drought |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing of note; everything is so dry, there's no water in any of the crossings. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are in fine shape -- we removed some deadfall here and there, but other than that, nothing of note. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs, but we DID see an otter run across the road in Bristol, near the Newfound River. THAT was awesome! |
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 | Bugs: |
A few eye flies, but easily avoided. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A nice, quiet Labor Day ramble to the northwest peak of Bear Mountain, in Hebron.
Saw no one all day EXCEPT for two folks who were somewhat lost, as they had used the old Welton Falls Trail (North) trailhead, about a half mile away, on Valley View Road, courtesy of AllTrails. That trailhead has not been in service for almost five years now, and use of it involves crossing now-private property, much of posted accordingly with "No Trespassing" signs, as well bushwacking through over-grown/unmaintained old corridor.
They were on their way to Bear Mountain. One of us spent some time trying to convince them how to use the current WFT (well-signed and blazed; easy to follow) plus a short road walk on Valley View Road to get back to their car once down Bear Mountain, but we're not certain it made a difference. One of the couple seemed insistent that if the route wasn't on AllTrails, it couldn't be trusted. They didn't have any other maps for reference.
We waited by the WFT/Elwell intersection for a bit, hoping to catch them and point them down the correct trail. Later, we waited at our car for some time at the trailhead on the off chance that we could point them in the direction of their car on Valley View Road, or even give them a lift to it. No dice.
We really hope that they made it back to their car okay.
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-09-01 |
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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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