| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monadnock, Pitcher Mountain, Hubbard Hill, Jackson Hill, Oak Hill, Lovewell Mountain, Kittredge Hill, Lucia's Lookout, White Ledges, Mt. Sunapee, NH |
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 | Trails: |
White Dot Trail, White Cross Trail, Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, Summit Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, September 22, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We spotted a car at Mt. Sunapee Resort and the folks were very friendly there. Just call ahead and tell them what you are doing. At the beginning of the trek the Mt. Monadnock rangers were very helpful and arranged for us to leave the other car for 4 days. Plenty of room both places. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings were bridged or rockhops. The only exception was the famous Barney Brook beaver activity bog at NOBO mile 27.6. The alternative route was not necessary on this date (9/21/15), it having been pretty dry lately but we did have to keep to the left (NOBO) and go off-trail to avoid the deeps. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The MSG is in excellent condition and our gratitude to the MSGTC. There were a couple of minor blowdowns near the southern end someplace but they were not problematic. There are nice new bog bridges in some places and a couple of new actual bridges. There was a recent trail maintenance day I understand. Some of the trail over the blueberry mountaintops are starting to need brushing due to picker bushes growing in but you can get through with little loss of blood. The "Mud--significant" entry under "surface conditions" refers to the Barney Brook beaver crossing and in no way reflects on a lack of maintenance. You always have the alternative route on the map if you foresee a problem. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Mt. Monadnock of course does not allow dogs and I am not sure about the state parks and private lands the MSG passes through. The only dogs we saw on the trail were with people out for a brief walk or at houses along the trail. At the first house on Pierce Road near Center Pond in Stoddard the nice older gentleman has a friendly Newfie that came out to say hello. At the summit of Pitcher Mountain a dog tried to pee on one of our backpacks. At Max Israel shelter we were starting to get settled at dusk and a dog came charging at us from out of nowhere but was extremely friendly and hyper and it wasn't till a minute or two later that the owner came by. They were out for an evening stroll and it made us realize that despite the fact that the Max Israel shelter looks like it is in the middle of the wilderness there is actually a residential street close by. It probably explains the recent entry in the trail register where someone said they heard coyotes yipping at night. It was probably just dogs in the cul-de-sac. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not many bugs at all. Certainly not an issue. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
We went to the Steve Galpin Shelter just to check it out and found that some slobs (in addition to leaving their reading glasses behind) had left the place in disarray. The trail register book was out of the box and scattered all over the trail and there was some trash laying around. We straightened up the best we could and packed out some trash. Anyway, the reading glasses are still there. |
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 | Comments: |
White Dot Trail, White Cross Trail, Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, Summit Trail (Sunapee)
Our epic 4-day NOBO traverse of the MSG. After spotting the car at Sunapee we ditched our backpacks in the woods at Old Marlborough Road and then we went to Monadnock State Park and slackpacked over Monadnock. So we didn't have to carry our packs for about 10% of the trip. We saw 2 small bears between the Bear Pond Trail junction and the Steve Galpin shelter, and another one after the Steve Galpin shelter. In each case they were a ways up a tree and when they saw us coming they scrambled down like firefighters down the brass pole and then scooted off into the woods, too fast to get a picture. Many of the blueberry mountaintops also have abandoned apple orchards with interesting and tasty heirloom varieties, just getting ripe. Beautiful views and great weather, only a sprinkle the first night. We stayed at the Spiltoir Shelter, the Fox Brook Tent Platform (where we saw the only other end-to-ender, so we had to set up nearby) and at the Max Israel Shelter. We met friendly people along the way, including Phil Barker who owns the land around the General Washington Shelter and who is mentioned in the MSG guidebook as someone who will provide you drinking water from the faucet on the front of his house. Also as we walked through Nelson Village a fellow in a pickup truck, late for the 10:30 service at the Congregational Church said we could get water if we wished at the faucet behind the church, without us asking. Good to know. And I sure went through a lot of Vitamin I. Thanks to Lone Wolf for a great hike and thanks for carrying the IPA. I understand hops are a good anti-inflammatory so my knees thank you also. |
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 | Name: |
greatoz |
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 | E-Mail: |
greatoz.tz...gmail |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-09-23 |
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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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