| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Plymouth Mountain, Rainbow Falls, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Fauver Link Trail, Sutherland Trail, Fauver East Trail, Glove Hollow Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 21, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There were four vehicle wedged in the Fauver Link lot on Old Hebron Road with room for no more. I parked on the side of the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues although some spots in front of Rainbow Falls are a little loose. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The Fauver Link and Sutherland Trails have two complete blaze sets: one in blue and another in yellow (?). The first couple hundred yards of the Fauver East Trail seems a bit brushy. There's a sign at the bottom of Rainbow Falls advising to cross a bridge and follow the trail to get to the top as the area is fragile. It might help to have one at the top of the falls also for this approach. Trails are in good shape and well signed and blazed otherwise. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I saw one with two humans on Pike's Peak on ascent - it seemed to be enjoying the day. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
The Fauver Link and Sutherland Trails had some wet, sticky snow on top of a good hard pack. The loose snow depth was maybe 2-3 inches in the morning but on descent in the afternoon much of that top cover was packed down. I wore Microspikes for this and did just fine...and somehow managed to avoid balling underfoot. Recent traffic seemed to end at a rock cairn shortly after the junction - no idea why since there was a tree with a yellow blaze right behind it - so I continued on to the Plymouth Mountain summit proper and a bit beyond. Not too much in the way of views from Pike's Peak on either pass due to the clouds but some of the Squam area was visible on my way out.
The Fauver East trailhead is not obvious coming from the east but from the west it is. There is no parking lot here but it is only a short distance from the Fauver Link lot and just beyond an intersection. It looked as if this trail had not seen any traffic in a while so not knowing what to expect I put on the snowshoes. There was a very narrow foot bed underneath maybe 3" or so of snow in spots on this trail. Then connecting onto the Glove Hollow Brook Trail at a kiosk the footing became a bit better. In all snowshoes may have been overkill here...but then again anything less may have been a little more work. The GHBT was a very nice meander through the woods to the top of the falls - the trail then turns left, angles down the slope and crosses a bridge to the bottom. The falls were running pretty well underneath the ice though there was only one 'window' to view it.
I saw just eight others hiking Plymouth Mountain today and had Rainbow Falls all to myself until I was getting ready to leave when two others came in from another direction. Despite the clouds, warm winter temps with near zero wind made this a fun trek. |
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 | Name: |
HMJ |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-01-21 |
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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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