| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Starr King, Mt. Waumbek, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Starr King Road, Starr King Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked in the public lot next to the Irving gas station on Rte 2. There is also a plowed winter hiker parking lot on the same side of Rte 2, slightly closer to Star King Road. From parking lots, walk up Star King Road. to trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The few small water flows are frozen/snow bridged except for one which is open but is very narrow and easily straddled. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few duck-unders, one in particular needs removal. (I fell in both directions when my backpack caught it) At higher elevations, trail could use brushing higher to allow for winter snow depths. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one medium sized friendly dog. Saw NO dog or any other poops on or along the entire trail. But some pee on the trail in places, but it may be human ! |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None and no visible litter on the trail. |
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 | Comments: |
Solo of Mt. Star King and Mt. Waumbek.
Bluebird day on the last morning of winter, good views of Presidential range from summits. Snow softened some in areas with direct sun as temperature rose.
Trail broken out rather well since last storm, but still needs some more smoothing and packing by snow shoes. Trench is up to about 2 feet deep where there are drifts. Snowshoes only are appropriate. NO icy spots at all. Leave bare boots and traction in the car- bring your snowshoes. Saw 5 people and one dog on the trail. Trail beyond Star King summit to Waumbek summit is not as well packed as up to Star King as it sees less traffic. Kilkenny Ridge Trail is more crudely broken out to the observation point about a hundred or more feet past the Waumbek summit but there has been NO traffic beyond the observation point on Kilkenny Ridge. Great views from this observation point, don't miss it.
At higher elevations, expect to be walking in the tree canopy due to snow depth- watch out for getting poked ion the eye or face. Only a few visible small rocks on trail.
POSTHOLE RANT: trail was bareboot postholed in what should be a snowshoe track. On the trail, came across 2 bare-boot postholers "doing the deed". They commented that- "they wish they had snowshoes". Da ya think ? In case bare-booters don't know, snowshoes are safer for your joints and benefit the trail and many snowshoers don't like finding either barebooters or their "trace" on a trail. (FYI- In the Adirondack High Peaks, NY, NYSDEC requires snow shoes.) |
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 | Name: |
SOTA |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-03-21 |
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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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