| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Washington, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Great Gulf Trail, Nelson Crag Trail, Madison Gulf Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, August 15, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Great Gulf trailhead by along Rt 16. Plenty of available parking. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water levels low. All crossings bridged or easily done. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A number of duck-unders near Spaulding Lake, where many other trees were recently cleared off the path. The Nelson Crag trail is overdue for some brushing where it descends back into the forest. Also, trail markings where the Great Gulf ascends the headwall are intermittent at best. Occasion old paint marks and a few small stone cairns. Trails otherwise in good shape. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Met no dogs today. |
|
 | Bugs: |
A few black flies celebrated my arrival at Spaulding Lake. No mosquitoes today. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
I planned on making this 16.5 mile loop in 12 hours or less. The Great Gulf trail past Six Husbands junct was rougher and slower than I'd expected. Many sections of trail appear to double as brooks in wet weather. Just past Spaulding Lake, the trail appears to become a brook, and a side bushwack leads into the thickets. Stick with the trail/brook. After a hundred feet the trail regains dry ground. The old trail marking up the headwall are incomplete due to recent accumulations of fresh rock debris. Keep in mind this is a classic 'follow the brook straight up the mountain' trail. Above the boulder rampart, the trail never veers off into the thickets, but sticks to the wide swath of the brook/rock slide up the slope. Water is always visible or audible beneath the stones. I often paused to search out cairns or paint marks or paths marks, and to avoid the swaths of loose stones. Budgeted 2 hours for the headwall ascent, took plenty of pics, and reached the summit with time to spare. Saw no other hikers until I reached the summit. An excellent hike! Returned to my car within minutes of my 12 hour estimate. |
|
 | Name: |
Tom Fernald |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-08-16 |
|
 | 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. |
|
