| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Weeks, Middle Weeks, South Weeks, Mt. Waumbek, Mt. Starr King, NH |
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 | Trails: |
York Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, bushwhack, Starr King Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 18, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Berlin Fish Hatchery is well plowed and the snowbanks are high! Gate to the entrance is snowed it, we went in at 5:30pm and lots of people were getting into their cars. Lots of room to park. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Skis |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Luckily water crossings on York Pond Trail snow bridges held me with skis. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Sign is missing (it is on the ground under all the snow) at the intersection of KR and York Pond. Blazes are faded and the blazes I did find were just barely above the snow. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I think dogs would have had a very hard time since they don't ski or wear snowshoes |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
My plan was to do North Weeks and if the ski conditions were good I would go all the way. Little to no evidence of anyone going up the York Pond Trail, snow was deep and I skinned up sinking down between 6 to 12 inches through fluffy powder. I was up here earlier this winter and between finding blazes and remembering I was able to stay on the trail all the way to the KR. I turned left and tried to follow the blazes, with the deep snow and the fact the trees trunks were plastered with snow I had little hope of following the trial. The whole mountain side looked like a trail. I went straight up hill and found the top.Since the snow was good I decided to go to to Middle. I took a compass bearing and took aim and skied where ever I wanted and this was good because when you bushwhack there are never any blowdowns blocking the way because you go around anything you don't want to go through. Plus I switched back and forth to control my speed, so I don't think my tracks going down the peaks would be a snowshoers idea of a good time. I was delighted when I found a blaze and I did find more than I thought I would since I gave up looking for them but in the cols and near the summits is where I found the majority of blazes. The woods are open and the snow deep, I really made good time and my trusty compass (used my glasses to set it ha ha) got me where I wanted to go. It was well below zero when I started out and when I hit Middle it was quite warm and by the time I hit South Middle the snow was rapidly transforming and sticking to my skis. Lovely forest and nice obstructed views all day. I didn't meet anyone until nearing Waumbek when I ran into a group of 4 from Rhode Island working to tag South Weeks, they were excited and I thought my route from there was mostly on or near the trail and five minutes later I met two backpackers that were making their way to the Fish Hatchery and would camp on Saturday night somewhere between here and there. I kicked and glided fast on their snowshoe track. I did realize I enjoyed the fresh snow and going where I wanted and I was happy that I didn't meet them sooner. Gosh on Waumbek and Starr King I caught up to at least 10 people. I had a good bobsled run down the firm snowshoe track shooting out into the woods or dragging one ski in the soft snow beside the track. I called my husband to pick me up and he was there waiting for me at the bottom. Before going to retrieve my car we went to the Jefferson Country store for a slice of the best pizza! This traverse was a little over 12 miles. |
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 | Name: |
Nordic Gal |
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 | E-Mail: |
amybike@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-03-19 |
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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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