| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Franconia Notch Recreation Path, Notchway ski trail, Bickford ski trail, Scarface ski trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 19, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We parked at Skookumchuk's TH parking and were the only one there. The parking area off 141 on the west can hold a modest number of cars. We ran into one person who had parked there for a short hike. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All bridged although one on Scarface is partially collapsed on one side. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Recreation trail had some small debris and one blowdown which will need to be removed for snowmobilers. Notchway and Scarface are in good shape mostly. Notchway has old asphalt much of which is covered on the sides by vegetation mats which make for nice walking. Scarface is mostly a nice old logging road, with one small pool on it, and a handful of small blowdowns, all but one on the ground and the other is only a 1' off the ground. Hikers wouldn't think anything of these; skiers would easily get over the one off the ground. Bog trail has a couple small blowdowns that need to be removed for skiers. Bickford is mostly wet and soft, and not really good for hiking at the moment. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper had fun, although he didn't enjoy the two heavier showers. His softshell kept him pretty dry but it lacks a hood. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
On the eastern end where Notchway branches off from the Recreation Path, there is a sign with two hikers on it, and another sign saying Notchway Trail 1.3 mi. Every time we pass this I think I should look up this hiking trail, and ask Steve why it isn't in the Guide. But I always forget. So today when looking at the sign on our way back from hiking the Recreation Path from Skook to the Cannon Tramway, Pepper just decided that was where we were going. So off we went. At each trail intersection there is a nice trail sign/map showing where one is on this network of ski trails. At the western trailhead parking there is a sign saying Lafayette Ski Trails, and a short ways in there is a USFS kiosk.
These trails don't go "anywhere", but they were pleasant walks in nice woods and until the end, out of the rain. Well, Bickford wasn't really pleasant today, but it is short and we've been on worse. Since I couldn't find a trail report on these trails, I thought I'd post one. They are a nice walk and I would think a nice ski in winter. I noticed they are on the newest AMC Guide maps with light gray double broken lines.
The Recreation Path is actually a pleasant walk in this section, and at this time of year fine for dogs. As has happened often this year with winds from the south, the weather in the Notch was unpleasant but north of Echo Lake it was brighter and drier. I realized today this Path provides an interesting way to access Bald Mtn and Artists Bluff trails, but it was in the rainy section today, so we skipped them.
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-11-19 |
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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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