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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Hale, NH
Trails
Trails: Little River Road, snowmobile trail, Haystack Road, North Twin Trail, herd path, Firewardens Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 29, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at 7 Dwarfs Motel on Little River Road; left $10 under windshield. 12 vehicles parked there this morning. 2 out of state vehicles parked in the no parking zone at the end of the road. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Skis 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Minor/snowbridged. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few duckunders on North Twin Trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: From 7 Dwarfs, we barebooted to the end of Little River Road, then took a right and crossed the river on the private bridges (foot traffic welcome, but spikes/snowshoes prohibited on the actual bridges to protect the wood decking). The old trail on the immediate left after the bridge is now closed/posted. We continued straight along the driveway, past the old chimney, then a hundred yards or so later, took a left onto a former snowmobile trail. SNOWSHOES were optimal with about a foot of snowpack down this low. This route eventually empties out onto Haystack Road, which was a busy groomed snowmobile corridor. From 7 Dwarfs to the summer trailhead was about 1.4 miles.

SNOWSHOES or skis were ideal for the flats on the North Twin Trail. Generally a foot or two of snowpack with a few inches of powder on top. We took the herd path to avoid the river crossing; the sideslope section is currently bypassed by going onto snowcovered riverbed.

The track up the Firewardens Trail started a few dozen feet early, but hopped onto the trail promptly. A pair of hikers broke it out early this morning, but unfortunately got lost at the false summit (to the right of the trail; the trail actually drops into a saddle) and turned around a tenth or two from the true summit. Sorry that they missed out on their peaks, but thank you for the trailbreaking. There was 6-12" of powder on top of the multi-foot base (perhaps hovering around 4 feet higher up).

Fortunately everyone we saw was using SNOWSHOES or skis, so there are no postholes to speak of. The trail is not firmly packed, making it very forgiving on the descent. Please don't even consider going up here in Microspikes.

Noted SNOWSHOE tracks ascending Hale Brook Trail and descending Lend-A-Hand.

Cloudy morning with occasional glimpses of sun. Snowing for much of the morning.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-02-29 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
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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