| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bald Knob, Mt. Crosby, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bald Knob Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Trail head for Hebron Town Forest on Groton Road has parking for 6-8 vehicles depending on how carefully they get parked. It is plowed in the winter. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Couple of minor crossings at lower elevations, but these also offer bridges |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One or two minor blow-downs easily to walk around or easy to trim back with small hand saw or loppers |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Bald Knob follows a south facing spur ridge practically no running water, but it has been very dry summer. |
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 | Bugs: |
I got stung by a wasp typical for August, wasps are very aggressive everywhere |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I wanted to do another hike with son Peter at some point this summer. I thought he'd enjoy Bald Knob and Mount Crosby located north of Newfound Lake in North Groton and Hebron, NH. NE Trail conditions indicates the standard route appears to start from a trail head on North Groton Road. I came across this alternate route, the Bald Knob Trail which starts from Groton Road and the Hebron Town Forest.
An out & back hike from Groton Road trail head to Crosby and Bald Knob is roughly 8.0 miles and 1600' elevation gain. We were pleasantly surprised to learn the Bald Knob Trail features ledge view overlooking Spectacle Pond which provided a very pleasant break after the steep climb. We had great weather with big puffy cumulus clouds and blue skies, light breezes. We had a late start at slightly before 11 AM, but still had time to enjoy the many fine views this trail and peaks have to offer.
Bald Knob Trail is very lightly traveled (yet well blazed and easily followed) and generally moderate grades punctuated by ledge ramps, occasional scrambles, hardwood draws and forest glades, to add to the variety of terrain that makes this trail a delight. The grade is steep in couple of spots just before Spectacle Pond View ledge and Bald Knob. The trail passes over nice view ledge on Bald Knob, but there is a view ledge just below main view ledge which provides unobstructed view of Newfound Lake. Someone needs (maybe me) to brush out a short spur trail to this ledge as views of Newfound Lake from normal view ledge is very much obstructed.
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 | Name: |
Jazzbo |
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 | E-Mail: |
rdcaron@rcn.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-08-20 |
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 | Link: |
 https://https://jazzbeaux.smugmug.com/2020-PHOTOS/CROSBY-BALD-KNOB-20200818 |
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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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