| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Potash Mountain, Potash Mountain - South Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Potash Mountain Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, January 2, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Downes Brook/UNH Trailhead plowed, not clean but any car with all season tires can handle it |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Downes Brook ice bridged but you can see open water just upstream and below |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are actually yellow blazes marking the Potash Trail! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Hiker Ed's truck was only one in the parking lot when I arrived at 9:45 am, it was 5 degrees. I bare booted up the solidly packed trail, brook was ice bridged. Old tracks up forest road but I noted there wasn't good parking at the beginning on the Kanc. I made good time to the first big view ledge and I took a few photos and managed to drop my glasses in the snow but wasn't quite sure where. I spent ten minutes looking for them and when I had given up, poof there they were! Just before reaching Potash's summit I met Hiker Ed coming down. We chatted a bit and he gave me a chocolate bar that I immediately ate and enjoyed. I put on my snowshoes here. Summit was nice with good views. So why would any sane person think bushwhacking to South would be a good idea? The trees were ice covered and laden with snow and the snow isn't that deep to keep snowshoes from catching rocks and sticks. Started whack about 11, swam and pushed through trees--it was difficult. Looks of thick stuff and a little bit of mature trees. If you are foolish to follow my tracks getting off Potash is not easy it is steep and ledgy. Took me 1.5 hours to reach south's summit. My arms were tired from pushing branches and breaking ice. I bashed that canister trying to open it but it is too tight/frozen. I had paper and pencil so wrote my name and date on it and put in the dry and easy to open pill bottle. I followed my tracks back and it was much easier not having to knock ice and snow off trees to take a step. It took me less than an hour to get back to the Trail, I did break a new line to get back up to the trail. I took off my snowshoes and put on my spikes for the descent. It was fun to have a bout with Winter! This was my second trip to South, back in 11/2016 Bryan & I pushed through thick stuff covered with wet snow. It was cold today but it was better than being soaked. |
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 | Name: |
Nordic_Gal |
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 | E-Mail: |
amybike@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-02 |
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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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