| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bare Mountain, Mt. Hitchcock, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Northside Trail, Side Trails, Bay Road, Route 116 |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 16, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of space at the Visitor's Center parking area. Still a good amount of construction at the junction of Bay Road and Rt. 116. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The M-M trail is in great condition and well-signed. Very easy to follow. I hiked from the visitor center at Rt. 116 past the Low Place up to the easternmost of the Seven Sisters without trouble. The blazing in the area north of the ridge, however, is very outdated to non-existent. There are numerous herd paths and mountain bike trails in addition to the occasional signed hiking trail junction, and it was very difficult to know which was the correct trail in numerous places. It would be very nice if this area could be better signed and blazed. I ended up taking note of the Hadley Reservoir as a landmark on my map, wended my way to Bay Road after abandoning efforts, in the increasing dark, to take the proper hiking trails back to the visitors center. Rt. 116 was a bit iffy, good thing I had my flashlight for meanderings in the dark forest and aside the road. Had the trails been properly marked and followable, I'd have been back to my car over an hour before my final arrival time of 8:25, with plenty of daylight. Should've stayed on the ridge! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
A few bugs here and there, but hardly worth mention. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The hike up Bare Mountain is quite rugged, as is the descent off Hitchcock. Views from both are very nice, mostly to the north and west on Hitchcock, best from a short northward spur just east of the summit to a ledgetop, and in most directions from three nice lookouts at or near Bare's summit. Views were to Stratton and Monadnock - barely peeking over an intervening ridge from atop Bare - to Higby Mountain and the Hanging Hills in the Meriden-Middletown, CT area. Beautiful day for a hike. Due to a late start, at 4:30, I made it only to the easternmost of the 7 Sisters, about 2.1 miles in - had hoped to get to Lithia Springs Trail to link segments, will do that another day. I enjoyed the rock scrambles coming out of Amherst Notch up Bare and going up the Sister at the western end of my hike. Though the area north of the ridge is pretty, I likely won't do that part again b/c of how poor the markings are. The M-M trail is worth repeat visits. |
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 | Name: |
Chris Stratton |
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 | E-Mail: |
christratton@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-09-17 |
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 | Link: |
 https://facebook.com/arkie.in.ct |
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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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