| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bald Knob, Smarts Brook Gorge, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Pine Flats, Old Waterville Road, bushwhack, Yellow Jacket Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, November 14, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Smarts Brook Trailhead parking, twice as many cars could fit if people would head-in park. Lot was completely full at Noon when we returned. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
easily rock hop-able or there were nice bridges. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some did some nice work trimming back the spruce on the upper part of Pine Flats, thank you. The trails were walked were wide and clear. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
a few rock scramble out there |
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 | Bugs: |
none |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We went up Pine Flats Trail, Smarts Brook Gorge is always a pleaser and then went left on Old Waterville Road and from the graveyard we headed up Bald Knob. This was not our original hiking plan but when Becca said she had never been there before we decided to wing it. I knew there was a herd path somewhere to a rock climbing area and had seen it before from the ridge above but I was clueless where it came out below. We enjoyed our whack through mostly open woods and we successfully wound around some tall vertical ledges. It was kind of cloudy but nearby views we enjoyed from the many open slabs and ledges along the way. From the summit we stayed on the ridge and went a ways north following a few old cairns. We easily located the herd path and headed down, thick leaves often made it a challenge at times to follow the footbed. We really enjoyed seeing the rock climbing crag and the boulders with chalk on the holds. We popped out on the Yellow Jacket Trail and turned right and then went back down Pine Flats Trail. Along Pine Flats Trails we passed by several groups out for a stroll. It wasn't quite so we had time for another bushwhack. Good fun. |
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 | Name: |
Nordic_Gal, Becca Munroe |
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 | E-Mail: |
amybike@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-11-15 |
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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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