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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Cabot, The Bulge, The Horn, NH
Trails
Trails: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, Unknown Pond Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, April 14, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at the Unknown Pond trailhead. The gate was open when we arrived at 7:30am and when we returned at 5:00. No issues. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Fast moving but small, shallow crossings, all can be rock hopped. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Very few blazes on the Bunnell Notch trail - blazes were placed on paper birch and paper birch peels. Even without blazes it was easy to follow if you pay attention. There are a number of blowdowns along the loop. Some duck-unders and walk arounds. The walk-arounds obscure the narrow, faint, trail coming down the Unknown Pond trail. Some mud on the lower levels of Bunnell Notch and the Unknown Pond trails, not too bad but a little slippery.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: My friend's dog (lab mix) had no problems with the trail. Even on the icy sections.  
Bugs
Bugs: None  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None 
 
Comments
Comments: Wore crampons above 2800 feet and kept them on the entire hike until we passed the Unknown Pond. The ice was thick and unavoidable and I was very happy I brought my crampons as opposed to microspikes. On the Kilkenny Ridge trail the snow was surprisingly deep but stable. A number of moose had postholed along the trail but we were fine.

Please note, the clearing beyond the cabin is NOT the summit. Keep going and you will see signs for the summit. If you are going to hike this trail, you should do it soon. In a week or two, the Bunnell Trail is going to be a muddy, mess with lots of running water.

I'm glad I hiked the Unknown Pond trail on the way down. This trail is an overgrown, most likely tick infested, muddy, rocky he*l hole.  
Name
Name: solowoodlandwanderer 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bugsandthings@comcast.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-04-20 
Link
Link: https://www.facebook.com/roberta.m.dellanno/media_set?set=a.10208184333479155.1073742199.1626231855&type=3 
Bookmark and Share 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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