| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Cap, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Red Tail Trail, Cranmore Mountain Trail, Black Cap Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 3, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for this trailhead is just up the road from the N Kearsarge Mountain Trailhead in North Conway - parking is on the right just before the winter gate on Hurricane Mtn Road. Lot has room for 4-5 cars - got last spot today; many others that hiked up the closed hurricane mtn road were parked along the road side. For trail head past gate up to the Water tank, Red Tail is to the left behind the tank where kettle ridge is to the right (sign points to kettle ridge but has written note and arrow pointing the way to Read Tail). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only stream crossing is on a wood bridge |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One blowdown about 1/2 mile in |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A great hike for canines of all ages and experience. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost - lens from my prescription glasses - lost at the top of the open area |
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 | Comments: |
Was looking for something that might be less crowded and also wanted to get to Back Cap in winter. The Red Tail trail fit the bill perfectly! Red Trail is a mountain bike trail but hiking is also allowed. The trail is a must in the winter! Easy grades the entire way. It runs along the brook for awhile down low and then heads gently up hill. Trail follows a logging road for a good stretch. There was little blazing and there was only one set of tracks to follow but the trail is obvious for most of its way and know had a few sets of tracks to follow. There is occasional flagging at some junctions pointing the way. The only tricky part we found was where the trail comes to a very large open area. Took our only wrong turn following a woods road at its base, but after a dozen yards we backtracked - at this point the trail was not visible due to drifting but if you head up the open area you will cross the trail after a couple hundred yards as it switchbacks up this area. I assume in the summer the trail would be obvious. The trail switchbacks up the large open area dipping in and out of the woods. The views from the top of this open area are amazing! From here the red tail trail re-enters the woods (easy to follow) and connect to the Mt Cranmore trail. A couple of tenths of a mile to the Black Cap Trail and then 1/2 mile to the summit. A covering of an inch of fresh snow on top of hard snow. Some ice on the black cap connector where snowmobiles have access but easily avoided; clear sailing up the ledges to the summit. Boots or light traction to help on ice if you like. There were only a few spots where we postholed (in the large clear area) where the snow had drifted. Not much traffic at all, ran across two snowshoers and one person brining his bike uphill as we were heading down. Surprised it doesn't get much use in winter but if you get the chance it is worth a visit! |
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 | Name: |
Brian From Maine |
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 | E-Mail: |
brobert1@maine.rr.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-02-04 |
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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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