| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
The Bulkhead, Balanced Rock, Ragged Mountain - East Peak, Ragged Mountain - West Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ragged Mountain Trail, Wilson's Wonder Trail, Johnson Road, Mud Pond Trail, Meadowlark Extension, Bulkhead Trail, Tuckerman's Trail, Balanced Rock Spur, East Peak Spur, herd paths |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, November 5, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At Proctor Academy Field House in Andover. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None significant. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No major issues on Ragged Mtn. Trail. The Proctor Academy trails are informal and are maintained very lightly or not at all. Also don't count on too many signs at junctions. Bulkhead Trail was flagged with orange tape the whole way and had numerous blowdowns. Tuckerman's Trail was in the worst shape, with many blowdowns and little evident footbed in places. Blazes are faded and I was going blaze to blaze frequently. The spur to East Peak also had numerous blowdowns. The Proctor trails also intersect with numerous new mountain bike trails, none of which are signed but are named and shown on the 2020 trail map. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure. |
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 | Bugs: |
Ticks! What the what? |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
Mostly dry trails for this loop, although there are some patches of snow lingering along the ridge. Also some mud and a stretch of Ragged Mtn. Trail below East Peak is a running stream.
Not too bad navigation-wise getting up to The Bulkhead, but between there and Balanced Rock was pretty wild. Tuckerman's is a crazy trail with lots of steeps and scrambles. Guess it's been so long I had forgotten what it was like. Fun, but I wouldn't recommend it for newer or casual hikers. There are also some fantastic views on this trail from the open (and precipitous in one spot) ledge areas.
Back on the ridge I did two short out and backs to the wooded east and west peaks, both of which have clear herd paths from the trail. For the descent, I took Ragged Mtn. Trail the whole way, which was long and somewhat tedious with the slippery leaves and hidden rocks.
A very spring-like day with bright sun and warm temps. Zero humans encountered. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-11-05 |
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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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