| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Middle Mountain, Turtleback Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Turtleback Mountain Trail, bushwhack, Turtleback Mountain Summit Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, July 25, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked just outside gate on Ossipee Park Road. Maybe 6 or 7 cars, plenty of room for more. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All easy or bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
There were deer flies, eye flies here and there, mosquitoes. All came and went, improving with altitude. I did put my hat on for the deer flies; the bugnet hat stayed in the pack.
As far as ticks, you could do Turtleback Mtn without brushing up against any vegetation. Beyond the turnoff for that summit, the trail does become a little grassy and brushy. I didn't see ticks on checks after these passages, but I would still make a point to check. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Bushwhack #3: Middle Mountain: Took the Turtleback Trail. I stayed on the Turtleback Trail until I got to the hairpin curve, just past being even with Middle Mountain, where a small bridge crosses the river. That would be my bushwhack starting point, on a westerly bearing. I chose this location, because I would know, for sure, exactly where I was on the map, before I made my bearing measurement.
I rock hopped the river easily, at the highpoint of the hairpin curve, and entered largely open woods. Thick enough where you couldn't see real far ahead. There was some wading thru deep weeds/ferns/brush. It was a gentle climb all the way, and a short bushwhack. It seemed like maybe only fifteen or twenty minutes. I came to a summit area, and thought I went straight to the highpoint. On further examination, there's another spot that's just south of that, that is high too, and I immediately spotted the jar hanging from a tree on this high point. There's a small cairn there, although it's about even with the ferns.
Not much in the way of views. Too many trees. Maybe in winter..?
So to get down, I went due South to the Turtleback trail. This is a little steep in places. Not bad, though. Watch for tricky footing hiding under ferns.
I went back and hung out on Turtleback Mountain for lunch, the weather was perfect. Met a couple nice folks. It's good to sit there afterwards, because Middle Mountain is right in front of you, as well as a great view of Black Snout and Shaw. |
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 | Name: |
Steve Marion |
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 | E-Mail: |
swamp_fox@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-07-26 |
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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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