| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Major, Straightback Mountain, Mt. Anna, West Quarry Mountain, East Quarry Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mt. Major Trail, Belknap Range Trail, bushwhack, Dave Roberts Quarry Trail, Quarry Spur, Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 8, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at Rt. 11. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings on Brook are open with significant melt off but can still be crossed on rocks. Some serious slush in Brook by midday. On both counts, Gor-Tex advised. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Given the otherwise outstanding blazes maintained by BRATTS, I was surprised to have difficulty at the junction of Dave Roberts Quarry and North Straightback Link. I could not find the green blazes and aborted my planned descent via Link. In the same vicinity, the orange blazes for Quarry Spur are faded and peeling badly. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
The snow fleas were amazing today. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I'm loving these hikes in the Belknaps on what for me are new trails. I started up Mt. Major Trail before 7 a.m. in my old stabilicers, which were well suited for what was alternately crusty snow, hard-packed refrozen ice, and occasional bare ground and rocks. Spikes would have also worked. Somewhere around Straightback I had to switch to snowshoes. Evidently there had not been enough traffic west of Major to yield a good pack, and I stayed in shoes rest of the day, sinking anywhere from two to eight inches.
I did not see the southern terminus of the Marsh Crossing Trail but was able to bushwhack from BRT up to West Quarry, hitting the summit maybe ten yards from a sign for the top of the Crossing.
Bottom line: Conditions are changing fast. Waterproof boots, light traction, and snowshoes are recommended. |
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 | Name: |
John C. |
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 | E-Mail: |
jcarter@holycross.edu |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-04-08 |
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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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