| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Cap, Peaked Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Middle Mountain Trail, Black Cap Connector, Black Cap Spur, Peaked Mountain Connector, Peaked Mountain Trail, Middle Mountain Connector |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, March 30, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room in the Thompson Street lot that also accommodates walkers to Pudding Pond. This lot can fill up quickly on good weekends and there is no parking on the roadside. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The only water crossing that isn't narrow was a small brook down low on the Middle Mountain Trail that is spanned by a plank. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Tree fall on the Black Connector downhill from the junction with the Mason Brook Trail (in the area with the past blowdowns).
A couple of trees down on the Peaked Mountain Connector just below its junction with the Peaked Mountain Trail.
Another blowdown on the Middle Mountain Connector.
A tree is across the Middle Mountain Trail.
All of these tree falls are easy to get over at one end of the tree.
The "Path" sign has been missing from the upper junction of the Black Cap Connector and the snowmobile trail (there is a bright red blaze on the tree at this junction) |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs |
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 | Bugs: |
Saw a few flying insects |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
The only people I met were on the Middle Mountain Trail.
I was a bit surprised to see a boot trail all the way out to Black Cap Mountain. There is a mix of surface conditions; frozen slush/ice, snow, rock, and soil. The snow is never deep. The deepest snow was in the col below the Black Cap Connector - Mason Brook junction (perhaps 8" inches or so deep). There was some water running on the trail in places, but I've seen worse on this route in the past. Some mud on the Middle Mountain Trail in the warm afternoon sun. An old pair of microspikes worked out fine. Wore gaiters. Snowshoes would be impractical.
There were snowmobile tread marks on the Black Cap Spur. The tracks were over snow, ledges, rocks, and the log steps.
Great views from Black Cap summit, the ledges on the Peaked Mountain Trail, and a lookout ledge just off the Middle Mountain Connector. |
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 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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 | E-Mail: |
waumbek1@charter.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-03-30 |
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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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