| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Starr King, Mt. Waumbek, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Starr King Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 26, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Starr King road past last house impassable. Tried shaking snow out of trees to park but there is a section with a large broken birch tree crushing many smaller trees. Will have to cut. Only car when I started but there were about 10 cars crammed along road on way out. AMC Guide references a lot near "swimming club"" on Rte 2. There is a reasonable sized turnaround South of Stark Road but there is no sign or reference to a swim club. Had one car in it when I left. Close to 1/2 mile walk to trailhead from here and not much room on Rte 2 with cars (especially with the snowy roads today) |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Slush, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rivers and trail were one and the same today. If I did cross any rivers apparently they were not a problem. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Several small snowdowns first 100 yds of trail that broke and will need cutting. Some other small ones scattered on lower part of trail. Light brush that should be easy cleaning. Aside from weather issues trail was in good shape. Drain trenches were working and there were plenty of blazes that could be followed even with the snow stuck to tree trunks. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs (saw one) but you'd better have a plan for cleaning your pooch after. Trail is a wet, muddy, slushy mess. |
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 | Bugs: |
none (probably the only benefit of the freak snowfall) |
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 | Lost and Found: |
none |
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 | Comments: |
Layed fresh tracks today so I got to "enjoy" the trail up. Most of conditions encountered on way up were gone on way down. First 1/3 of trail was non-stop carwashes and blowdowns mixed in with snow, mud and water. I shook quite a few trees on way up and it took awhile. From the point where trail goes through large elm trees and angles left out of hardwoods the carwashes eased up and there were less snowdowns but more snow, generally 4-6" of heavy wet snow. Near top of Starr King and Waumbek there were sections with as muh as 8". Footing was good sinking into the heavy snow. On way down I passed a lot of groups so trail was packed down, slushy and slippery. I barebooted entire walk but some spikes on descent probably would have helped to keep pace up. Lower 1/3 had virtually no carwashes and snowdowns on return but was a slushy, muddy mess pretty much right back to the car. |
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 | Name: |
DayTrip |
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 | E-Mail: |
bblanchette0709@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-05-26 |
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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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