| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson (Prema only), not quite to the Caps (Beckie), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Caps Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 12, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nice big lot. Park properly and many can be accomodated. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The muddy area at the beginning has bog bridges, which are handy. There are a couple of rotted ones that should be replaced. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Met a Chihuahua mix at the pothole rocks. Her family wisely had a dish and extra water for her. Plan accordingly, no water sources for most of this trail. Be careful of areas between boulders. Don't want them "dropping in." |
|
 | Bugs: |
Mosquitoes near the muddy beginning. Blackflies in the higher elevations. A few pretty butterflies. When you're on your way down and almost to the car, you'll know it by the skeeters. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Someone lost a cellphone near the summit. She was unable to locate it. |
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 | Comments: |
Beautiful day for this. I only made it as far as the area where the boulders start getting challenging for short people. Texted Prema, who was a little ahead that I was waiting, and gave her a turnaround time for the summit. I enjoyed my seat and my view, contemplated on what a difference nearly 25 years had made, because that's the last time we did this trail. I'm 2 inches shorter then when I did this last. She summitted a couple minutes after the turnaround time, I told her to enjoy it and keep in touch. And hikers coming down filled me in as well. Thanks to the father/son hikers for taking her pictures.
Caps Ridge is a great trail. If scrambling slows you down, start early. Even if you only make it partway, it's worth it.
Here's the rest of the story from Prema. As the caps are above treeline, there are wonderful views the whole way up to the summit. Summit was nice, a good,clear day did not go to waste. Summit was nothing but rocks. You can hear the auto road traffic.
A note about blazing, there are a few very faded blazes above treeline. |
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 | Name: |
Beckie and Prema |
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 | E-Mail: |
beckiejani@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-07-13 |
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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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