| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Cabot, The Bulge, The Horn, NH |
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 | Trails: |
York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, Unknown Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 6, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Fish hatchery gates are open from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. It appears the Unknown Pond lot has been expanded since the spring (i.e. the boulders appear to have been pushed back). Some overflow onto the access road, but not too bad. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock hoppable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some leaners. Lots of unmitigated erosion and trail creep. Perhaps the worst active erosion is coming off Cabot on the way to The Bulge, where the trail is about 10 feet wide (FS spec is 4 feet). Failed stone staircase on Unknown Pond (people bypassed it, resulting in gullies on either side that in turn compromised the steps, now the whole section is a mess). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Minimal |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
York Pond to Bunnell Notch to Kilkenny Ridge to the summit was generally dry with minor mud in the usual spots. Hobblebush is getting colorful. Spectacular field of asters near the height of land in the notch. Some fall colors popping up on the trees as well.
Kilkenny Ridge Trail between the peaks and to the pond was also mostly dry. Some larger mud pits on the lower portion of the Unknown Pond Trail.
The recent logging is not at all visible from the Unknown Pond Trail until the very end; very minimal impact.
Apart from some crowds around the Horn Spur and Unknown Pond, it was a fairly quiet hike. Chilly start (temperatures in the 40s) before becoming more seasonable in the afternoon (upper 60s/lower 70s). Beautiful late summer/early fall day. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-09-06 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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