| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Castleview Ledge, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Peek Path, Mt. Crescent Trail, Castleview Loop, Cook Path, Boothman Spring Cutoff, Randolph Hill Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 3, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was surprised to see that I was the only on at the trailhead at the end of the road. After all my recent hiking in the RCF, this was my first time to park there! There was one car parked at the Grassy Lane trailhead as well. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Although the guidebook doesn’t mention them, there were small crossings on the upper portion of Peek Path and Cook Path. I imagine they’re usually just little drainages or little trickles but they were raging (although very narrow and rock hopable) Sunday. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All trails are blazed in the RCF orange and are also marked by white diamonds with the word “path†on then whenever they enter/exit woods, fields, etc. The blazing was adequate as far as I remember but some of these trails are very rocky so most of tour time is spent watching your footing and not looking for blazes. I don’t recall any of the trails being hard to follow. There was at least one very old and large step over blowdown on Castleview Loop (May have been on the short section of Mt Crescent Trail between Peek Path and Castleview too...not quite sure). Probably a few other blowdowns I’m forgetting about too. The trails are well signed but the jct of Peek Path Mt Crescent Trail can be confusing as there’s signs in two different places. I headed down Mt Crescent Trail at first thinking I was heading north on Peek Path. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I didn’t see any but a fit hiking dog should be fine. I wouldn’t bring any old dog out here for a little walk though as some of these trails are very rocky. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I don’t recall seeing any other than when I stopped to stretch once back at the car but they are out. I’d anticipate them starting to bite and get real nasty very soon. I recommend starting to carry bug spray and a head net. |
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 | Comments: |
This hike concluded my redlining of the RCF. From the parking area, I took Peek Path —> Mt Crescent Trail —> out-and-back on Castleview Loop —> Mt Crescent Trail south —> Peek Path —> Cook Path —> Boothman Spring Cutoff —> road walk.
It was 69F and sunny when I started at 4pm and 66F when I ended just past 6pm. Windy but a glorious day spent up north. I was so happy to be out enjoying it :)
The trails were in fine shape as far as I remember with the usual spring mud and general wetness but not bad at all for this time of year. Some snow near some water crossings on Peek Path and Cook Path and some patches on Castleview Loop, including the spur to Castleview Rock, Peek Path, and when crossing Jimtown Logging Rd. I was fine without spikes though and I was happy in my trail runners although they definitely got wet and I soaked one of them in mud at one point. I noted a small camp at Boothman Spring. Nobody else out but me although I think I heard the people parked at Grassy Lane coming out of Carlton Notch as I finished though. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-05-06 |
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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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