Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, NH |
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| Trails: |
Skookumchuk Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Falling Waters Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Thursday, June 16, 2016 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Many spaces were open on a Thurs. morning at 10:30 at the Falling Waters/Old Bridle Path lot; Skook lot was almost empty. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
easy rock hops on Skook--not so easy on Falling Waters |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Minor blowdowns on Skook, a few recent, others older. Sections of Falling Waters Trail where stream banks have been eroded or washed away are wet, poorly marked, and treacherous on descent. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
passed two happy-looking dogs on Skook, which seemed good for dogs, at least up to the tree line |
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| Bugs: |
a few biting black flies at Lafayette summit |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
I parked at the Falling Waters/Old Bridle Path trailhead lot across I-93 from Lafayette Place, then biked on the Franconia Notch bike path to the Skook trailhead to begin the hike. I finished at the car and then drove to pick up the bike. The bike portion was for 5.6 miles, with significant climbing (505' according to Google Maps), including several short but intense uphills. If you are peakbagging for the N.H. 48, don't do this, as you need to return on foot to your starting point. I also don't recommend descending on Falling Waters Tr.; the section near the biggest falls was difficult due to wet, slippery rocks and flowing water in washed out sections; four water crossings were not entirely rock hoppable, at least for me (short); and trail marking is poor, so that at several points I wasn't sure I was on it, it was so much like a stream. If I were doing this again I would consider descending on the Liberty Springs Trail despite the greater length and extra climbing toward Liberty. |
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| Name: |
David Schulenberg |
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| E-Mail: |
dschulen@wagner.edu |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-06-17 |
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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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