NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Madison, NH
Trails
Trails: Great Gulf Trail, Great Gulf Link (attempt), Osgood Trail, Parapet, Star Lake Trail, Daniel Webster Scout Trail (attempt)
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Great Gulf parking usually has lots of spaces and did again today with only 3 vehicles there, and one of those being an AMC van. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No significant unbridged crossings. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Osgood was pretty good, but I've forgotten all the details already beyond a few small snow patches. Same for the tentsite spur. Parapet had a few snow/ice patches and pooled water but it is so much easier to follow than it was years ago. Daniel Webster was in pretty good shape with a great system of water bars, but a few need cleaning (I pulled some leaf dams out)and it has a couple of blowdowns up high one can duck/knee under and a couple of broken stems in the trail down low. It has one modest snow patch up high that can be mighty tricky. I put on Hillsounds for it since it is steep, and had a soft layer over a hard one, and they really weren't able to get a good grip. I wish I had my MSRs for it or crampons. But other than that small patch it has only a few remnants of snow. Parts of Great Gulf Link and Daniel Webster Scout are temporarily closed. More on that below. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Pepper had fun. The rocks on these trails have sharp/rough crystals. Pepper's pads are tough from all of his hiking but occasional hiking dogs or couch potatoes could injure themselves on them. There was plenty of water, and some snow for Pepper to drink and cool off in, but in a few weeks that won't be true. The mild temps and partial clouds also helped keep things cool for Pepper. There is a lot of exposure on these trails, and the sun beating down on a dark furred dog and infrared coming up from the rocks will make things hot soon.  
Bugs
Bugs: There were a few black flies down low on our return hike but nothing like what we have at home. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: I slipped and broke a hiking pole. The broken piece flew about 15' but I found it after a search. 
 
Comments
Comments: I haven't been reporting trail conditions all winter, but this time I may have something useful to note. There is major work going on at the Dolly Copp campground. Part is still open and part is closed, and that includes the trailheads for Great Gulf Link and Daniel Webster Scout. The USFS has signed this at the Great Gulf and Dolly Copp ends, but there is no reference to it up on Osgood, and a quick check of their website shows nothing. It is "temporary" but there is a lot of equipment, materials and construction related machinery and buildings; it looks to be a long "temporary". The USFS has created a detour for the Daniel Webster Scout, with a designated parking spot and then a signed route around the campground on a forest road to it north. It is quite a bit longer than the short section of closed trail it detours, but it is an easy and pleasant walk with just one wet area. They created no detour for Great Gulf Link; they just closed it roughly .2 mi from the campground. This I don't understand; they could have ribboned a temporary bypass. Maybe they figured those who really need to will find a way to whack around it. I had contemplated using the ski trails for the return link as I was going up Osgood but by using the Daniel Webster Scout detour I didn't get to them. Pepper and I ended up walking through the open part of the campground, and then we went "exploring" further by following various fisherman/animal/camper herdpaths and easy whacks running between the campground proper and the Peabody River until we were past the campground work and then joined up with the Great Gulf Link.

It was a great way to use up a 2016 vacation day. This is a great loop hike at this time of year, the weather was superb, we saw the helicopter bringing in a sh_tload of stuff in (figuratively)and taking a sh_tload of stuff out (literally), we had the trails to ourselves except for one backpacker, and we met a big bear at the Great Gulf & Link intersection near the end. We briefly looked at each other, and then it took off. I leashed up Pepper just in case but he has little interest in bears; he sees them in our fields occasionally and keeps his distance.  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-05-23 
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