| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mowglis Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Manning Trail, Back 80 Trail, Elwell Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 23, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At 1:00 pm the main and overflow lots at the AMC Cardigan Lodge were almost full -- we found a spot from someone who just left. At 6:00 pm, a few more spaces had opened up, but the lots were still almost full. And, on a Sunday, too. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water levels are low, so these were not an issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Back 80 Trail is in decent shape overall, but corridor in a few short sections is brushy with hobblebush. Elwell Trail has seen recent brushing and blowdown removal -- in good shape all the way to Mowglis Mountain. Needs a few blaze re-freshes in some sections. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Eye flies here and there, and an occasional mosquito and deer fly -- nothing too out-of-the ordinary for this time of year. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We took a follow-up stroll out to Mowglis Mountain from the lodge to see some of the recent trail work on the Back 80 Trail, and also view the beaver ponds near the Back 80 and Elwell Trails.
It's been a year or so since we last checked out this area, and the beavers have done some additional work on existing dams. Pretty neat to see this, and also the resultant habitat. One section below one of the dams resembles a mini Venice, with its network of interconnecting canals.
Some of the work done on the Back 80 Trail is pretty impressive -- new bog bridges, cleaned drainages, new waterbars, and a new turnpike constructed to alleviate one particularly wet area. This trail is getting some well-deserved love and attention, and it's very much appreciated.
On the Elwell Trail, there's evidence of recent brushing. The trail has been cleared again from the intersection with the Back 80 Trail to the summit of Mowglis Mountain, in particular the portions that cross old logging cuts and that typically become a bit overgrown with raspberry canes and beech saplings. These sections have been kept regularly clear now for the past couple of years, and the corridor is beginning to bed in a bit there.
In spite of the incredible weather and conditions on the trails, we didn't see anyone at all except right at the AMC lodge. |
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-07-24 |
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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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