| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Square Ledge, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Oliverian Brook Trail, Square Ledge Branch Trail, Square Ledge Trail, Passaconaway Cutoff |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the Oliverian Brook trailhead on the Kanc. The lot is plowed for 6 or more cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Most crossings had snow bridges, some not very stable, but the water levels were on the low side. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
There were foot prints and ski tracks for the first 1.5 miles of Oliverian Brook Trail. After that, there were no signs of any recent traffic, except some moose tracks here and there. I had to break trail for most of the hike.
Above the junction of Oliverian Brook and Passaconaway Cutoff, there was up to a foot of unconsolidated snow topped by a thin crust of crunchy ice. Since it was just me, the trails still need some snowshoe traffic to be really packed down. Obviously, the higher up you go, the deeper the snow, and more packing is required.
The approach to Square Ledge is very dramatic, with glimpses of near vertical rock faces. I wondered how the trail was going to navigate the ledges, but there's a natural ramp that traverses northeast below the cliffs. The deep snow made for very good footing up the ramp. I imagine you wouldn't want to attempt this route with lots of ice.
It's a shame there aren't better views from Square Ledge (it's been delisted from NH52WAV). Still, this is an interesting hike over some very unique terrain. |
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 | Name: |
Duct Tape |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-13 |
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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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