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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Madison, NH
Trails
Trails: Daniel Webster Scout Trail, Osgood Trail, Great Gulf Trail, Great Gulf Link
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 24, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Don’t know if this is always policy, but they didn’t make me pay to park at Dolly Copp Campground. Stop and go in as directed please though and make sure to park where they ask you to. I parked in a small lot for 4-6 cars not far from the DWS trailhead with a few other cars in it. A similar lot a bit further down is right next to GG Link trailhead. Got there around 12:30pm and left around 7pm.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Osgood Trail crosses a small brook twice in between Great Gulf Trail and Osgood Tentsite but it was inconsequential yesterday. Water is low.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: I lightly bumped my head on a very small leaner on DWS. It was toward sthe beginning of the rough section not long after the rock buttress. The only other blowdowns I recall were four (each in a group of two) on Great Gulf Link not too far apart and a little closer to the Dolly Copp side. All easy step overs that won’t likely be removed. All trails were was to follow below treeline though I don’t recall blaze on GG or Osgood. Great Gulf Link has some yellow blaze and DWS had faded blue blaze below treeline and blue and yellow blaze above. DWS was a bit tricky to follow when it first reaches the talus slope; the trail briefly turns to the left instead of continuing straight. Look for cairns and blazes. I didn’t have any trouble following Osgood down. Recent trail maintenance visible on Osgood as it looks like some new very small (and unique looking!) ladders have been and are to be installed on Osgood Trail.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Not recommended for most dogs as most cannot handle the rough rock above treeline present in the northern Presidentials. Osgood and DWS are pretty rough in that way. Not a lot of water either. Only saw two dogs with a father and son pair yesterday coming in to camp along the lower GG Trail on my way out. I  
Bugs
Bugs: Barely noticeable :)  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None 
 
Comments
Comments: A little afternoon redlining and my 4th summit of Madison for the grid :)

9.8mi hike done in 6hr15min. The trails were in fine shape and not much to report on. DWS starts out moderately, but gets very rough particularly on the talus slope after you reach treeline. Nice views above treeline and shortly before it on DWS. Both DWS and Osgood Trail travel above treeline longer than most other trails to Madison allowing you to soak in views for much longer :) More than a dozen people at the summit; I wasn’t really expecting it. I think I’ve been unique in never seeing more than a few people at a time on the summit of Madison the other three times I’ve been there. One group celebrating someone’s 48 finish. The descent down Osgood is rough on the knees. Everyone (including the thru-hikers) were complaining about it. My body could definitely tell I was only hiking with one trekking pole today instead of two. Still the easiest way down into the GG wilderness though. Nice to meet several thru-hikers and have a conversation with Flamingo :)

I know there were two small water crossings but they were so small I don’t even remember them! Some wet trail and mud but nothing too bad. Some wet rocks here and there but nothing very slippery.  
Name
Name: Liam Cooney 
E-Mail
E-Mail: liamcooney96@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-08-25 
Link
Link: https:// 
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