| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Barrett Mountain, New Ipswich Mountain, Stony Top, Pratt Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Wapack Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, January 25, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
In the lot across from Windblown off NH 123 in New Ipswich. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One small open stream on the approach to Stony Top, easily hopped. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Overall, the trail is in excellent shape, with just a few very minor stepovers. Some painted blazes could use refreshing, but the corridor is so obvious, it's not really a big issue. Pratt has a spiffy new sign at the summit. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Out and back from NH 123 to the summit of Pratt.
Wapack Trail is frozen solid with a good snowshoe track all the way across the ridge (and presumably to Watatic), smooth in places and choppy in others, especially along the Stagecoach Road portion, which has been beat up by boot traffic. This stretch also has some ice floes. Beyond this section, footing improves the rest of the way. Bare boots could have worked, but I stuck with spikes round-trip.
On the return trip, I did the very short bushwhack to the high point on Barrett, where there is an old collapsed cairn. The New Ipswich high point currently has a tiny snowman.
Excellent views from all the outlooks in the clear blue skies, and that warm sun kept things comfortable. Wind wasn't too much of an issue as this ridge walk is mostly wooded. Zero humans sighted. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-25 |
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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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