Table Mountain, Big Attitash Mountain - Attitash Trail - 8-21-2016

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Table Mountain, Big Attitash Mountain, NH

	Trails:	Attitash Trail

	Date of Hike:	Sunday, August 21, 2016

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Room for a few at the Bear Notch Road trailhead. Mine was the first one there @ 9:00 and two others had joined mine when I returned mid-afternoon. There's a space opposite the entrance which peters into a path headed down to the Louisville Brook which might be nice for a post-hike respite...were it not for the many old tissues scattered about. How sad...and disgusting.

	Surface Conditions:	Dry Trail

	Recommended Equipment:

	Water Crossing Notes:	A couple of small ones at the start presented no issues.

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	The trail is well blazed along with a handful of cairns up to Table Mountain. Beyond that however blazing is sparse - you might see an old one every once in a while if you look hard enough. That said the trail is fairly obvious most of the way to Big Attitash. There is one stretch maybe a quarter to half mile west of the Big Attitash summit where trees and brush have nearly swallowed the trail - the foot bed can still be seen but it felt very bushwhacky. There is one felled tree which completely covers the trail maybe .75 mile or so west of Big A's summit and the only way through is to tip-toe through and over the branches. Despite all this there is ample evidence of trail maintenance along the way with some recent looking cuts and given the carnage in the trees off trail in some spots the maintainer(s) should be saluted - it looks like a tough area to keep up with.

	Dog-Related Notes:	I didn't see any. There are some stretches which are steep and gravelly or otherwise loose - notably on either side of Table Mountain - which I imagine might give Fido a tough time. Beyond the first half mile there is no water all save for a very small stagnant pool a mile or so west of Big A's summit.

	Bugs:	None buzzing around...but I broke A LOT of cobwebs on the trail this morning and ended up giving some spiders and worms a free ride. I must have looked like Cousin It by the time I got to Big Attitash!

	Lost and Found:	Nothing.


	Comments:	Torn between two treks I flipped a coin this morning and it was off to the lesser-traveled Attitash Trail as an out-n-back to Big Attitash. Both slopes of Table Mountain are steep with the west side having a gravel and slab mix near the top which can make for tricky footing - I know as I took a small digger on my way out. FWIW: much of the time I don't use poles when I ascend but I found them very helpful going either way in these areas. Many views were had at various outlooks around Table's summit but beyond that up to Big A's peak the trail is in the trees. As I was having lunch just off the trail near Big A's summit I was very surprised when a pair of hikers appeared making the traverse toward the Moat Mountain Trail. I was also surprised when I crossed five others on my way out...I never would have guessed this trail would be that 'busy.' Between the views around the top of Table and the 'wild' feel of the trail beyond I enjoyed this trek so no regrets about the coin deciding my destination today.

	Name:	HMJ

	E-Mail:

	Date Submitted:	2016-08-21

	Link:	https://
		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.