| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Caps Ridge Trail, The Link, Castle Trail, The Cornice |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Fairly large dirt lot. No services, not a fee area. Surprised at how many cars there in afternoon despite being a WED. Lot almost full. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Several small brooks on Link. One had enough water and moss all over the rocks to warrant a little caution but fine. Others small and easy. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One small blowdown on Link shortly after leaving Caps Ridge. Trails generally well blazed. Many log bridges at beginning of Caps Ridge are well decayed and worn but still function. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not good trails for dogs. Only Link had water and all trails were very rugged with numerous ledge scrambles, rock and gravel. Small and inexperienced dogs will struggle. Several of the ledge scrambles are dangerous and/or impossible for some dogs. Saw one couple with a Scottish terrier that they basically had to carry the length of the Caps. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Some mosquitos in the woods AM and some black flies on the Castles early when the wind was down. Occasional bites but not worth repellent. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
none |
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|
 | Comments: |
Caps Ridge, Link and Castle Trail to treeline were very wet and damp AM. All the roots and rocks were very slick. Section of Link from Caps Ridge to Castle was not nearly as horrible as what I had heard. Really the last 0.5 miles of the 1.6 mile stretch was the truly rugged area, but no worse than many other trails in the Northern Presidentials. Having said that, there was one very difficult scramble about 1/4 mile from Castle Trail involving a 15' basically vertical ledge/boulder combination. No bushwhack was possible without substantial effort pushing through steep, thick woods, large boulders with deep drop offs between,etc. You had to get up on a small ledge about 7' off the ground (with really no hand or foot holds) and then hug a boulder protruding out over the drop to get into a short chimney up through the two upper rocks. Had a very tough time with it. No idea how I would have descended thisif I had come in the other direction. Castle Trail has many scrambles as well, only a few of which are somewhat tricky. Cornice is basically a 1 mile rock pile that required the usual care. Caps Ridge also has a very large number of ledge and rock scrambles and can be tough in wet/rainy/icy weather. One ledge in particular on the 2nd Cap is very tall and fairly steep (although there is a rugged bypass that skips the lower 2/3 of the ledge). Very fun but rugged route. |
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 | Name: |
DayTrip |
|
 | E-Mail: |
bblanchette0709@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-07-23 |
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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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