| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Presidential Rail Trail, Castle Trail, The Link |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Randolph East where there's room double digit vehicles. There was only one other vehicle there today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Israel River crossing at the trail would have been doable with wet boots and some pole vaults for me, but it wasn't safe for Pepper. Upstream a bit there was an island and using it was pretty easy with wet paws; we then climbed the bank and in a few feet hit the trail. The major stream crossings on Link were rock jumps for both of us, but poles helped me out. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I took out some or debranched the most blocking of the manageable blowdowns, and tossed lots of broken branches out of the trail, but there's still some a hiker's saw could get and plenty more of the branch debris. There's several major trees across the trail on Castle as it approaches the Link; an axe would be needed. There's some blowdown on the Link, most noteworthy were two down as it parallels the power line which require axes. The Link below Lowe's has a few issues, including several stretches that have seeping water either eroding the path or creating mud spots; these could use a waterbar. Some of the mud spots could use rocks/poles. A few spots in this stretch could use a brushing and fresh blaze paint. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper had fun on generally easy paths with water, shade and mild temps. The Castles section we were on can be tough for a small dog to handle alone with some high jumps required in rough places; he did them but I made sure to spot him. Redlining continues to perplex him some; he figures I'm lost a lot. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few black fly attempted bites in a few spots such as when lunching on a castle, but in other places there weren't any around. As usual if one kept moving they weren't a problem. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
On the Link just west of Lowe's Path two nice Outdoor Research gaiters are hanging from a tree. |
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 | Comments: |
The plan had been to redline the Rail trail as a real link, going from Randdolph East to Bowman, then up Castle to Jefferson, and back via Randolph. But the forecast of afternoon Ts led me to change it to only go to a castle and then back via the Link. The Castle Trail was in pretty good shape, with a few small patches of snow and the patch of blowdowns around the intersection with The Link. The Link from the Castle to Israel Ridge is what I remembered from my last time on it, slower going over roots and rocks, that were wet from overnight rains, but it was well painted and maintained. From Israel to Lowe's it is a nice walking trail with a good footbed and open path. From Lowe's down it has some nice sections, and some pretty muddy and/or wet stretches too, with many more minor drainage crossings. The Rail Trail is fast and okay hiking out on it early; coming back on it in summer after a tough hike would be more like a Lincoln Woods slog.
The forecast was off a bit; there was some sun and blue skies in the early pm, and I didn't see any Ts, but showers did hit late afternoon when we were driving through Jefferson. Knowing now how things turned out I would have started earlier and done the original plan to Jefferson. We ran into only one other person, a very nice college trail runner, who ran the Rail Trail from Appalachia and was heading for Jefferson. He only had a small pack with some water and a shirt and a jacket which was probably more than he carried for most runs, but I thought way too little for Jefferson in the clouds with possible storms coming. He lacked a map or compass, had no spikes, and no familiarity with the trails up there either. But he was moving fast and youth is indestructible and with the better than forecast weather I'll bet he got down in plenty of time and had a good run. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-05-22 |
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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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