| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
West Quarry Mountain, Rand Mountain, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Reed Road Trail Access Road, Reed Road Trail, Dave Roberts Quarry Trail, Old Clough Road, unnamed path |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, July 26, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Reed Road Trail parking lot at Quarry Mountain Forest in Alton, NH. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing to note |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are in great shape and clear of blowdowns. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any |
|
 | Bugs: |
Ohhh plenty of bugs. I recommend bug/tick spray and bug net for head. Bugs were negligible while ascending Reed Road Trail and Quarry Trail to West Quarry, nearly absent from summit of West Quarry, awful in col between WQ and Rand, slightly annoying on Rand, and then horrible descending Rand and down Old Clough Road. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Did a loop hike up to West Quarry and Rand Mountain for #10 and #11 for my hiking patch. My hike had lots of spiderwebs, crazy bugs and overgrown trail with ticks. However, each time I hiked these mountains I love them even more. Some portions of Reed Road Trail and almost all of Old Clough Road are overgrown and fully vegetated with tall grass and lots of ticks. I thought Reed Road Trail was kind of bad while ascending, until I came down on Old Clough Road which was way worse. I did expect this however, as I've read this in previous trail reports, especially during summer. Reed Road Trail also had a very nice woods section midway where all the switchbacks are. After a small opening with views while the trail heads east, make sure you catch the beginning of the blue blazes heading into the woods with rock stairs, on your right, and the trail will enter the woods and head more southeast. Most of the rest of the ascent and the portion of Quarry Trail to WQ was very nice and beautiful forest. While descending WQ to the west, I recommend taking the "ledges" split in trail because you get a really nice view (the best for the day along my route) of the western Belknaps. The forest on and around Rand was nice too, but no real views to be had. I decided to loop back down to my car via Old Clough Road. This old logging road/jeep trail is very overgrown with tall grass, extremely buggy, and muddy/wet in sections. The unnamed path to cut back over from Old Clough Road to Reed Road is a right turn right after the little "gate" (a wire with PVC pipe) and a "Private Way" sign. It is another jeep trail and is very wet and muddy. I recommend doing a full change/tick check/shower after this hike as I pulled off lots of ticks and still had more on me up to 2 hours later. My last mountain needed for the patch is Anna! |
|
 | Name: |
Matthew Kuncik |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-07-27 |
|
 | 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. |
|
