| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Eleanor, Rattlesnake Mountain, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Lake Trail, Mt. Eleanor Trail, unnamed trail, Rattlesnake Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, January 4, 2021 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked in the lot across from the beach at Merrymeeting Lake on South Shore Rd. in New Durham. This lot was plowed. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One small brook on Rattlesnake Trail -- not an issue. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
These trails are still under construction, so conditions are primitive. All but the unnamed connector trail are blazed and flagged, but not fully built yet, or even laid out in some places. One large tree down on the switchbacks headed up to Rattlesnake. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I guess. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Nope. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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|
 | Comments: |
As mentioned above, these trails are in their infancy as part of SELT's Birch Ridge Community Forest project. In general, there were no issues following the routes, but the trail to Rattlesnake currently stops as soon as it hits the ridge -- the top section and SW loop have not been marked yet. Where the trail markings ended, I bushwhacked along the mostly open ridge to the summit. Rattlesnake's summit is not recognized, but the summit of Eleanor currently has a register and cairn.
Be aware this this entire area has been thoroughly logged over with boulders and slash everywhere, so walking may not be the most attractive for some. In summer, I imagine some of the logging road sections will be quite muddy and brushy. As these trails are just getting off the ground, hopefully they will be improved in time. Snow depths were minimal today and I wore spikes round-trip, although these trails could easily be bare-booted right now. Deep snow will really improve the conditions.
A formal map of the trails will be available from SELT soon. |
|
 | Name: |
KenM |
|
 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-04 |
|
 | 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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