| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Peaked Mountain, Middle Mountain, Pudding Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Peaked Mountain Trail, Peaked Mountain Connector, Peaked - Middle Mountain Connector, Middle Mountain Trail, Pudding Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 3, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Only one car (NH) when I got there at 8:45, over a dozen cars (mostly NH and ME plates, but 2 MA plates as well) when I got back at 1. The Nature Conservancy's page on the Green Hills Preserve (https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/green-hills-preserve/) says that the town of Conway has temporarily banned parking along Thompson Road, however a half-dozen vehicles were parked along it when I got back. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
A couple crossings lower down had log plank bridges. The crossing on the upper part of Middle Mountain Trail had two large stepping-stones that made it easy. Some parts of Pudding Pond Trail close to the pond were flooded despite having bog bridges. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of running water and erosion on most of the trails. Peaked-Middle Mountain Connector was in particularly bad shape - it definitely needs some trail work and some water bars. All signs were present. Some more blazes on some of the trails would be useful, particularly the upper 0.2 miles of Peaked Mountain Trail - there's a blowdown 100 feet from the junction, and it's not clear whether we should go over it or turn right up a ledge (the trail turns right up the ledge). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
On Pudding Pond Loop, I passed a group of three mountain bikers who had a dog with them. Upon seeing me, the dog immediately shot off in the direction it had come, away from me. However, that was the same direction that I was hiking, and as I continued along the trail, the dog continued to run very quickly away from me until it was lost to sight. The bikers tried to call it back, but to no avail. One of them came back to where I was on the trail, and I told him that the dog had just shot off and that I didn't know where it was. He said he'd continue to look for it. I never saw either the dog or the bikers again on the hike, so I don't know if they managed to find the dog or not. It's very weird - in my years of hiking, I'm sure I've encountered hundreds of dogs, and not a single one has done what this dog did. |
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 | Bugs: |
They're coming out. They were a constant presence at both summits, and generally whenever I stopped for more than 15 seconds. They weren't quite annoying enough to put on a headnet (though I did see two hikers with headnets on), but in a week or two, I'm sure that the bugs will be out in force and hungry. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Well, unlike my hike this time last year (https://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/nh/viewreport.php?entryid=41316), this redlining hike was a success. No ice or snow anywhere on or near the trail. A few small patches of snow were visible on the Cranmore ski trails. My relatively early start allowed me to do the first half of the hike without seeing anyone. Most of the people I saw were coming up Middle Mountain Trail while I was coming down.
Beautiful warm and sunny day. Incredible views - only small patches of snow were visible on Chocorua and the Moats, but Mt. Washington is still totally snow-covered. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-05-03 |
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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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