| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Sleeper , NH |
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 | Trails: |
Downes Brook Trail, Kate Sleeper Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 11, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot plowed-plenty of parking. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The water crossings were very difficult to navigate. Plan to get feet in the water for this hike. Bring extra toe warmers and dry socks. Water was high and rocks covered with ice made this hard. Slowed our usual pace considerably trying to find the safest parts to cross. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
This trail has no markings which made it hard to navigate on a few occasions once tracks stopped. Blowdowns passable but hard with snowshoes. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
If bringing a dog they will get wet and cold. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This was a truly challenging hike. We are experienced hikers in all seasons and this hike was hard. The water crossings were terrible and our feet were in the water. No way to avoid it.
The trail is not marked except a few arrows by the river to indicate where to cross.
We followed tracks for approximately 4 miles and they stopped. Clearly someone smarter than us knew what lie ahead and it wasn’t going to be easy. We eventually found where the trail picked up after yet another crossing and made it to Kate Sleeper. We followed the Kate Sleeper trail for .8 through what looked like a forest massacre of blow downs. When we finally got to the spur, the only way we were able to find the actual summit (tiny sign in a circle of blow downs) was to follow the trees that had been cut. It was pure logic that the cuts had to be the trail because no one would cut blow downs for any other reason.
This hike took much longer than expected and we hiked out and over the last 3 crossings in the dark which was not great because it was hard picking up the trail with no daylight.
Good luck and consider waiting until crossings are frozen or next summer for this one!
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|
 | Name: |
Michelle |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-12-13 |
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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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