Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Pudding Pond, Middle Mountain, Peaked Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mount Washington Valley Recreation Path, Pudding Pond Loop Trail, Side Hill, Middle Mountain Trail, Middle Mountain-Peaked Mountain Connector Trail, Peaked Mountain Trail, Black Cap Connector Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At the main Green Hills Preserve trailhead on Thompson Rd. in Conway. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Had a few head scratching moments on this hike. One was trying to determine where Middle Mtn. Trail actually starts. A new trail sign suggests it begins at its new junction with the relocated lower section of Black Cap Connector Trail, but Middle Mtn. Trail's red blazes start 0.1 mi. below that point at the Green Hills Preserve boundary (no trail sign). Another was trying to make heads or tails of the lower section of Peaked Mtn. Trail. It is signed as Black Cap Connector Trail but carries Peaked Mtn. Trail's blue blazes; Black Cap Connector Trail above the Peaked Mtn. Trail junction is blazed in red. I could see first time visitors to Pudding Pond Loop Trail getting confused due to lack of blazes, minimal signage, and several intersections with mountain bike trails. Peaked Mtn. Trail has some pretty significant erosion close to the summit. Both Pudding Pond Loop Trail and Middle Mtn. Trail had a few scattered blowdowns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Part one of what will probably be a multi-part visit to update these trails for the next WMG. Aside from the issues noted above, everything else was pretty straightforward. The recreation path and numerous bike trails are new since my last visit.
You can't really see Pudding Pond from the trail anymore due to tree growth, but there are a few side paths to the shore. Views from both summits were exceptional today with the great weather, especially Peaked, which is the more open and interesting of the two hills.
Next up with be checking on the Black Cap side of things. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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 | Date Submitted: |
2025-10-01 |
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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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