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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Kearsarge North Mountain, Bartlett Mountain, Mt. Surprise, NH
Trails
Trails: Kearsarge North Trail, Bartlett Path, Intervale Path, road walk, unnamed trails, Hurricane Mountain Road
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 22, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I was the first one in the Mt. Kearsarge North lot @ 7:30 AM. A half dozen vehicles were parked on the road when I returned early afternoon. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None on this route. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No major issues to report on Mt. Kearsarge North Trail. Evidence of recent looking sawdust at a fallen tree maybe a mile in so thanks much for that. There is a fallen tree on the Bartlett Path...but hey, it's officially abandoned. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any. Seems like Fido could handle this one but there is hardly any water on this route. 
Bugs
Bugs: Zero. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: Been wanting to hike this loop for a while. With the early start and making quick time I was the first one at the cabin atop Kearsarge North. On the way up I snooped around for the Bartlett Path which was easy to find and took that on descent. For being an abandoned trail it sure is in nice shape: nice soft footing in the woods and easy vertical rocks and slabs to walk on. Plenty of older white blazes on trees and rocks to assist if needed. There are no views at the summit proper (and no sign either) but there is a lot of ledgy goodness on either side of the high point. Backtracking a bit I found the Intervale Path - and was surprised to find someone coming up. This trail was also easy to follow (yellow blazes) - with occasional nice views - until out of Merriman State Forest. Once S of the boundary the trail ends at the condo development. I walked the road S for a bit and picked up another trail at the corner of a dead end road. Once back into the woods there is a maze of blazed and unmarked paths to navigate. I made it to the summit of Mount Surprise without too much trouble (which is wooded...surprise!) and then took whichever paths headed S toward Hurricane Mountain Road. This worked well and I came out almost a mile W of the Kearsarge North lot - which was more or less the plan.

It is very apparent the Bartlett and Intervale Paths get some love from the locals. I found the walk below Mt. Kearsarge North Trail on these paths to be much more interesting - and more scenic - than the trail itself. I chatted for a bit with two others at the cabin and the local gent at the Bartlett/Intervale Junction but other than a few heading up to Kearsarge North as I was descending 'on trail' I didn't see anyone else on this hike.

I was surprised to find a set of bike tracks in some mud near Bartlett's summit...good on ya!
 
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail: trailsntrees(at)gmail(dot)com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-09-22 
Link
Link: https:// 
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