| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Gunstock Mountain, Mt. Rowe, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gunstock Mountain Trail, Winter Shortcut, Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 29, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We were the fifth car at the Carriage Rd lot. The true parking area only fit three cars and us and another had to park along the road which there was plenty of room to do at 8:45am. More parked along the road at 12:30pm. The roads in were all snow/ice free. Gunstock ski area had lots of cars but there still seemed to be plenty of room. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The Gunstock Mtn Trail is well blazed in orange. A few blowdowns but they were mostly or all to the side of the trail. Might have been one step over. There was a leaner/widowmaker on the part the coincides with Ridge Trail just before the jct with Brook Trail and the summit. The Winter Shortcut was well blazed in a light green and free of blowdowns. I don’t call any blowdowns on Ridge Trail which is blazed in white. It was well blazed except for the road portion which was still obviously easy to follow. Note that there was one very brief part that diverges from the road through the shrub to avoid a switchback in the road. You’d think it was just a herd path but there is a blaze or two on it (it connects with the road in less than 50yards) but it would still be very easy to miss and just continue to the left (if descending) on the road. I think there was only a blaze seen if descending Ridge Trail. One in the trees shortly before that was obscured by branches and another once on it. All trails were easy to follow. If going from Gunstock to Rowe, once at the summit of Rowe, circle to the right of the tower to find the road (Ridge Trail) that takes you back to the ski area. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs may struggle with the combination of steep grades and iciness of Gunstock Mtn Trail and the Winter Shortcut. The Ridge Trail would likely be easier for them. I’d bring lots of water as there didn’t seem to be any along this route. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found a canteen at the picnic table and lookout that’s just after the jct of Gunstock Mtn Trail, Winter Shortcut, and Ridge Trail. Packed out a Capri Sun found near the summit of Mount Rowe. |
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 | Comments: |
Mom was away this weekend so it was just my dad and I but we had a great day in the Belknaps together :) We’ve had our eye on Gunstock Mtn Trail for awhile and it was nice to finally redline it. My father and I went to the summit together all along the Gunstock Mtn Trail. On our descent we went down the Winter Shortcut instead (probably slightly better to do this in the way we did as there’s some semi-scrambles on Gunstock Mtn Trail here). I then went back up the Winter Shortcut and then redlined the Ridge Trail down over Mount Rowe and out to the ski area where my father continued back down the way we came in and drove over to pick me up :)
It was 25F when we started and there was some wind even down in the parking area. The sun was very flirtatious. If you were in it and the wind wasn’t blowing then you were warm but if it went behind a cloud and the wind blew then it became quite cold. From the parking area you walk past the gate and the orange blazed Gunstock Mtn Trail is very shortly on your left. Both the road and especially the trail were icy. Micro spikes are a must. Mine were dull and worn and while I certainly managed okay I’d suggest bringing sharper ones or Hillsounds particularly if you aren’t very sure footed.
The trail felt surprisingly moderate for 1200ft of elevation gain over just 1.1mi. There are some steep parts and it’s a fairly steady grade but really not that bad. Snowshoes are absolutely not needed. The trail is frozen hard pack. There are lots of frozen divots or mini postholes that you could twist an ankle in but the packed trail is totally solid now. Even stepping off trail to use mother nature’s toilet you’ll only sink a couple inches. Snow depth seemed to be less than 6in everywhere. There were some old snowshoe tracks seen though. I enjoyed Ridge Trail which had nice grades and would be good for trail running! In fact I saw a trail runner who’d come up that way near the jct with the Winter Shortcut.
The snow flurries that were supposed to hit the Whites today also hit us further south. No accumulation but it was cold, windy, and snowing for a bit. We really enjoyed being able to sit inside a warm building, eat, and have a beer and hard cider at the summit house :) |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-02-29 |
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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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