| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bear Mountain, Sugarloaf, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Bear Mountain Trail, Elwell Trail, Alexandria-Hebron Turnpike |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 10, 2021 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked just above the trailhead on the dirt portion of Bear Mountain Road. SUV had no problem getting up the road. Dry with some eroded and gravelly spots. Room for maybe two cars. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
|
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Numerous stepover blowdowns but nothing significant. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
One tic but no surprise after falling innumerable times into the leaf piles on the steep portions of the trail. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
The Bear Mountain Trail and the section of Elwell coming off of Bear Mountain could use a leaf blower. Well-blazed.
Bear Mountain Trail is little used but well marked. starts out easy to moderate but soon starts climbing very steeply. Worst part was the leaves which made the steep upward climb more difficult. Once on the Elwell Trail it was a pretty nice ridge walk to the summit: a few climbs up ledges and, if you choose to follow the Mowglis Bear blazes, one interesting rock climb up and down just below the main cone (If you follow the yellow Elwell Trail blazes, it's a nice bypass around this obstacle.) Nice view of Newfound Lake from the summit of Bear. Back down the ridge and past the intersection with Bear Mountain Trail. Soon after this intersection, the trail becomes significantly steep and very slippery due to all the leaves. Finally the trail levels out and crosses Bear Mountain Road on its way to Goose Pond. The trail up to the summit of Big Sugarloaf has some short steep sections but the ground is pine needle covered and not at all slippery. Nice switchbacks bring you to the ledgy summit with another nice view. Continued on to where there is a cairn and a long ago blowdown tree to meet up with where we had left off last time we were on the Elwell Trail. Back down to Bear Mountain Road and about a .1 mile road walk to where we had parked our car. |
|
 | Name: |
Lady B and Italian |
|
 | E-Mail: |
italian10_22@yahoo.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2021-04-10 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
