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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Little Sugarloaf, Sugarloaf, Bear Mountain, Goose Pond, NH
Trails
Trails: Elwell Trail, Rest Area Loop, Blue Trail, White Trail, Goose Pond Snowmobile Trail (Orange Trail), Goose Pond Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 17, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Mine was the fist one in the lot on West Shore Road @ 7 AM. One other when I returned @ 11:30. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Leaves - Significant/Slippery 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None here other than two very small ones on the White Trail which are no problem to cross. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Elwell Trail is clear until climbing to Bear Mountain: there an "X" made of two trees across the trail on the south slope that you have to contort yourself to get through. There's another large, gnarly tree across the trail just up on the ridge. There's also a couple down on the west and south sides of Around the Pond Trail. Blue trail has many limbs and one tree down that I recall also. I tossed aside many limbs throughout the day. All junctions are signed although I did not notice one referencing the White Trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any. 
Bugs
Bugs: Didn't see any. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: Leaves are down and have spotty coatings of snow on them so attention to footing is wise here. Ascending Elwell Trail the snow has frozen up a bit as well. I'd say there is maybe an inch at most in a couple of areas up toward Bear Mountain. I was able to bare boot for the entire ascent without issue but I did put a pair of rock spikes on descending the steep south slope of Bear Mountain - and then took them off for good at the col.

This was an excellent trek: good views toward Newfound Lake and beyond at multiple vistas along the ridge. Saw a real nice whitetail near the Blue Trail (BTW: I did wear blaze orange here but only heard one very distant gun shot mid-morning - YMMV). Goose Pond is just beginning to ice over which made for a cool glaze reflecting the morning sun. Lots of impressive beaver work at the south end of the pond also. A calm, sunny morning wandering this fun area area made me wonder why I did not see another soul.
 
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail: trailsntrees(at)gmail(dot)com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-11-17 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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