NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mountain Pond, Eastman Mountain, Baldface Knob, NH
Trails
Trails: Baldface Circle Trail, Slippery Brook Trail, Slippery Brook Road, Mountain Pond Loop, Eastman Mountain Trail, Baldface Knob Trail, Chandler Gorge Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 20, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: There were only a few cars there when we arrived. It appears the lot filled up as some cars were parked out on the road. We used the Lincoln "bypass" on our drive home, to stay away from the Highland Games traffic. As I always seem to do when I try to take a shortcut off the many turns of 113, I ended up driving into NH only to find myself crossing back into Maine. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Minor drainages only; easy step overs. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Slippery Brook in good shape on north; on south it had roughly 10 blowdowns, 2 of which were multi branches forcing walk arounds. There was one on the road,snowmobile section which was an easy step over for a hiker but would torpedo a snowmobiler. There are two key arrow signs on the road section; one for where the trail diverges which is on a square post propped up on a blowdown; the second at a Y in the road which is on a makeshift one foot above ground pole. The trail section needs brushing in places. It lacks blazes, but isn't hard to follow although if one got off trail in places it might be hard to re-find it. Mountain Pond Loop is okay, a bit brushy in places, with some odd re-positioning of some bog bridges. I took out one new blocking blowdown. Eastman is in very good shape; a nice trail. Baldface Knob is in decent. Baldface Circle has some eroding sections. The trail to the shelter campsites is very brushy and braided, remember how you went in. Chandler Gorge is in good shape. All trail signs were in place, although in my space cadette hiking mode I was a bit confused where Baldface Knob intersected Baldface Circle to see only an arrow south for Baldface Shelter without reference to Baldface Circle. In redline mode I immediately headed off to the shelter, not realizing it was the Circle trail as well. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Pepper enjoyed his freedom today; with a few sip n dips, and some squeaky toys to chase. Except for Baldface Circle down to the shelter, grades were modest at most, pawbeds soft and temps comfy for hiking. Pepper had no problem with the Baldface ledges, but he's been on them several times and is a grizzled veteran of the trails; many dogs may not like them especially on a descent. They were dry today. On a warm day water should be brought; as there are dry sections. 
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: I saw a faded pair of blue jeans hanging from a broken tree stem on Slippery Brook south of the ridge. On our return to the parking there was a nice purple rain parka hanging just up from the road. 
 
Comments
Comments: Despite the stats, this was in today's conditions an easy hike, with its mostly easy grades including a fair amount of grassy road walk. With Slippery Brook Road closed (we ran into a couple at the Mountain Pond shelter who hiked in from the closed area on the road; they said it took them around 1.5 hr) my original plan was to come in via the Corridor 19 snowmobile trail to the Mountain Pond area, but I wasn't sure where to park. So I went with a certain if longer route, which made for a great hike on a day of low clouds and sometimes mist. (Another fine forecast.) Although I had been certain just what trails Pepper still needed to do, once out on the trails in redline mode I had him doing everything. We saw only the couple at the MP shelter, a few on Eastman, and then a handful more near South Baldface and the Baldface Shelter, but as noted the lot appeared to overflow today despite the Baldfaces being in thick clouds with a chilly breeze.  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail: windriversjohn at gmail dot com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-09-20 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved