| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Stairs Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Jericho Road, Rocky Branch Trail, Stairs Col Trail, Davis Path, Stairs Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, July 25, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Good area near the gate on Jericho Road. Plenty of space. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Most are easy. The difficult one has a bridge, which was partially destroyed by a hurricane. When you get there, you'll find the portion from the road has been washed away. You may descend down the gravel and then hoist yourself up onto the bridge, but not if you are under 5 feet (unless you have good strength and flexibility). People like me should just wade (so make sure you don't chose a high water time for this hike). |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns, but a whole lot more dispatched. This is especially impressive, because many are large and located in the Presidential-Dry River Wilderness, where cutting wood the old fashioned way is the rule. Thanks! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Beginning of hike has many opportunities for sips and dips. Higher elevation has no water, plan accordingly. WATCH THOSE LEDGES! |
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 | Bugs: |
More than a few mosquitoes on Rocky Branch, Deep Woods Off kept them off. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
On the way back (July 26), we saw a yellow bandana neatly folded on a rock near the Rocky Branch/Stairs Col junction. I left it, in case the owner wasn't out of the woods yet. |
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 | Comments: |
Overnight on Stairs Mountain. Beautiful and highly recommended. On paper it looked easy, but it was not. Because the hurricane destroyed a good portion of Jericho Road, the road itself is now a trail leading to Rocky Branch. Very pretty walk,with the river on your left. Then there is fun with the bridge and you are now on the Rocky Branch Trail. Up to this point, the layout reminded me of going to Bondcliff - Jericho Road would be the Lincoln Woods part (DON"T let that stop you from going, it is a pretty walk and no railroad ties!). Then you travel on Rocky Branch and there are several tiny streams to cross over, with the river on your left, reminiscent of the flat part of the Bondcliff Trail. The Rocky Branch Shelter #1 is near the junction of the Stairs Col Trail, we stopped to check it out and get some water. This looks like a great place to stay. Stairs Col Trail rises gently at first, has several flat areas, crosses the wilderness boundary, and has many streams. And then the rude awakening... For the next half mile it is very steep and many of the slabs and rocks here were damp and mossy. It tops off in a gorgeous ferny area and then drops down to the Davis Path. Again, there is a gentle ascent and then a steep bouldery climb. Be on the lookout for a very faint herdpath leading to a spectacular view of Crawford, Resolution, etc). The spur path to Stairs is relatively flat. There are several good places to put up a tent, legally! As you sit on the ledges, sunrise is to the left and will be obstructed by trees, sunset to the right. And even if you cannot see the sun unobstructed, the sky is beautiful with the colors. Stiff breeze in the evening made it almost cold. Great place for an overnight, worth the work.
Please don't let my remarks about the steep climb dissuade you from going. We had not really climbed anything big since February, so I may have been out of shape for this. This is a good pandemic hike, we saw very few people and there was enough room on the Stairs Ledges for 6 people to watch the sunset. |
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 | Name: |
Beckie and Prema |
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 | E-Mail: |
beckiejani@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-07-26 |
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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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