| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Castle Mountain - West Peak, Castle Mountain, Sugarloaf, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Road walk, bushwhacks, Sugarloaf Mountain Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, February 19, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I drove a passenger car on Meridian Hill road to Brown road, parking 2.3 mi from rt. 3. At that point it was way too icy, but clear of snow. Tire tracks did continue. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Ice bridges are good if you use care |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I began walking Brown road on blue ice. Following a great view of West Castle, I took a bearing and started bushwhacking sooner than necessary (as I crossed roads higher up). The woods were very open all the way to the highpoint. Down low, there are lots of bare spots and thin cover. However up on these peaks there was some soft snow, which posed a small trailbreaking challenge. There is a very nice view near the highpoint. I was glad to see the antler, which I carried quite a ways to that summit a few years back.
From WC I headed for the main peak of Castle. From there, I stayed high on the ridge, enjoying more open woods. The woods stayed open going up Sugarloaf too. I hit the trail about 1/10 of a mi. from the summit and followed it to the top. Amazing views to the Whites, the North Country, and well into the ME mountains. I followed my tracks out over the Castles. It was tempting to do Gore, but I chose to save it for when I go for Blue. Eventually my tracks were not determinable due to the bare sections. |
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 | Name: |
zporterColdRiverCampCook |
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 | E-Mail: |
zap88@tds.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-02-19 |
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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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