| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Carter Dome, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bog Brook Trail, Wild River Trail, Rainbow Trail, road walk |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 6, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There's parking for several vehicles on Carter Notch Road near where it is gated, 0.1 miles north of the Bog Brook Trail trailhead; there's also parking for three vehicles at the trailhead. The unpaved section of Carter Notch Road is in good shape -- a bit rutty, but dry. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water crossings (and there are quite a few) were not an issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Bog Brook Trail has two large, walk-around blowdowns blocking the trail -- one about 0.2 miles north of where the trail crosses Carter Notch Road, and the other about 0.5 miles south of the intersection with the Wild River Trail. Also, the Bog Brook Trail's bog bridges are rotting away; some have split in half.
Wild River Trail is in good shape.
Rainbow Trail has many, many step-over blowdowns in the first 0.5 miles after leaving the Wild River Trail. Raspberry canes are pretty nasty on a few patches of the trail in this same area. Once the birch glades are left behind, however, the trail is in good shape all the way to Carter Dome. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Plenty of water for dogs -- numerous stream crossings. |
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 | Bugs: |
Bugs were not an issue; we encountered all of a dozen lazy, non-aggressive black flies the entire day, with all at low elevation. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We parked at the gated section of Carter Notch Road and walked the road to where it intersects with the Bog Brook Trail -- bypassing the first three water crossings on the trail.
The Bog Brook Trail has some muddy sections (as usual), but not too bad; trail was drier than expected. Water levels in the stream crossings are a bit lower than expected, too. Some gorgeous scenery along this trail, in particular the views of Carter Notch from the south.
Lower slopes of the Rainbow Trail -- in the birch glades -- are awash with trout lilies, red trillium, and a scattering of spring beauty.
NOTE: the only snow/ice encountered all day was on the upper Rainbow Trail -- two very small patches of spring snow and an equally small ice patch, all avoidable and most likely gone by the time of this posting.
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-05-07 |
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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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