| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bryant Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Road walk, Mad Road Trail, Balanced Rock Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 21, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The park is still closed so I had to park outside the gate. Roadside parking here for several cars. A few others there at 3pm and just one other at 6pm. A lot of folk seem to come and go here to walk their dogs and such. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I'm not so sure there were any that weren't bridged. Maybe a small drainage crossing partway up Balanced Rock Trail. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Large blowdown that's not totally delimbed and is a pain (finagle your way over if you're tall or crawl under) about 10min up Balanced Rock Trail. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
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 | Bugs: |
None but I'd expect them soon. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
I don't think there were any blowdowns along the road or Mad Road Trail but there were a couple huge muddy parts along Mad Road Trail that maybe could be improved.
No sign for Balanced Rock Trail at its start just before the orange gate but it does a short ways in where there's a campsite on the right. I'm not sure there was one for the start of Five Summers Trail or Mad Road Trail either, though it was signed at its jct with Ridge Link.
Second hike of the day after redlining around Mt. Sunapee. Between that hike and this, I finished up the area around Pillsbury State Park. With the park still closed and gated, it was about a 1mi walk in to Five Summers Trail and Mad Road Trail. I did an OAB on the northernmost 0.9mi of this trail to finish redlining it, then hiked up Balanced Rock Trail, bushwhacked to the true summit of Bryant Mtn, then returned to my car via Balanced Rock Trail and the road.
Mad Road Trail had two very mucky spots practically right next to each other. Balanced Rock Trail is not signed just before the orange gate but is a very short ways in where a campsite path diverges from it. It is not well trodden and the blazing is old and infrequent I think but the turns on/off roads down low weren't tricky. Higher up the trail was more obscure though, more so on the descent I'd say. Even with the leaves off the trees, I didn't see the view or ledge that the guidebook spoke of. I missed that it was on a ledge...maybe there was a spur? In any case, I eventually came to Balanced Rock and soon decided to whack to the true summit of Bryant Mtn a short distance away. Woods were open hardwoods except in the area of the summit where they became thicker. No register but a surprisingly large cairn under a tree. The trail starts off flat/gradual but becomes steeper.
I believe I spotted exactly one tiny patch of snow on the slopes of Bryant Mtn. Gaia had me at almost 7mi, 700-750ft of gain, 2hr53min. It was great to finally get back out again after 3 weeks of not hiking!! |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-24 |
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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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