| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Square Ledge (attempt), NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Oliverian Brook Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 5, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Room for 6-8 vehicles. No issues. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
We turned back at the first major one. According to the GPS, there were three other major ones after that. Water was high and fast - getting across would have involved stepping on many submerged rocks. It just wasn't worth it. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
We didn't see a single blaze on Oliverian Brook Trail, either in the Wilderness or outside of it. There were also a lot of blowdowns, and lots of areas of standing and running water and mud. Drainage is a major issue on this trail that really needs to be worked on. Some bog bridges would be useful, including for the part right next to the beaver pond. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
If they like water, mud, slippery unstable monorails, and postholing, then I guess they'd be OK. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Saw one or two. Not bothersome. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
We found an old headlamp without the head strap - it was in a puddle of water. We carried it out. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Oliverian Brook Trail is in TERRIBLE CONDITION right now. From right at the beginning, the trail has a narrow, slippery, highly unstable monorail that is pockmarked from countless postholes, making it impossible to stay on. There's still 1-2 feet of wet, heavy snow on the ground for most of the trail for when you do inevitably posthole. The only sections of the trail that weren't snowy were the areas that were wet, and there were lots of them. Water and mud galore! Your boots and feet will get wet, even with waterproof boots and gaiters. We wore spikes for most of this first section, because they gave us (slightly) improved traction on the monorail.
At the junction with Passaconaway Cutoff, the monorail followed the cutoff, and Oliverian Brook Trail was mostly unbroken, again alternating between bare patches that were extremely wet and muddy, and 1-2 feet of unbroken snow. Those of us who had snowshoes put them on here. However, at the crossing of the major tributary at 2.2 miles in, we decided to turn around. Not only did the crossing look difficult, not only did we know that there were more crossings further up the trail, but also I simply wasn't having a good time. As that feeling is very rare for me on a hike, when I do feel like that, I know it's time to turn around. We hiked out the same way.
I recommend waiting until Oliverian Brook Trail is clear of snow and dry (maybe 3 weeks?) before attempting to use it. |
|
 | Name: |
GN |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-05-05 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
