| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bear Mountain, Sugarloaf, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Welton Falls Trail (North), snowmobile trails, Elwell Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, April 23, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked in the grassy area opposite the sign for the Welton Falls Trail on Valley View Road. Room for about 4 cars. We were the only one. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Several, some with logs to cross, some hopovers |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Both trails were much cleaner than anticipated. There were about 6+ blowdowns between the two, easily stepped over or around. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost the black USB cord to my wireless phone charger just below the power line clearing where the snowmobile trail crosses the north Welton Falls Trail. |
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 | Comments: |
NOTE: Welton Falls (North) trailhead area was logged a few years ago, so initial section of trail may be difficult to follow.
Blazing was pretty good, only took a few wrong turns on/off Welton Falls. Both trails had a pretty well worn footpath.
Headed up the bank where the sign for Welton Falls Trail was: no obvious trail there but followed along the woods up to where there is a bench swing. We saw a stake with a yellow blaze above us so continued up the hill into the woods and soon came out on a clearing with a woods road. No blazes here. Checked our book and Gaia and took a right following the road slightly downhill. At a T-junction mistakenly took a left but soon realized we were heading the wrong way. Back we went following the road/snowmobile trail. We followed several snowmobile trails, checking at each intersection, trying to keep our heading for the Elwell Trail. No blazes at this point. As we approached the power lines, all of a sudden we saw yellow blazes to our left and noticed a yellow-blazed trail coming up from our right! Back on the Welton Falls Trail! we followed the blazes and faint path up the hill and under the power lines. The trail continued into the woods where we came upon the intersection with the Elwell Trail. Took a left here and followed Elwell through the woods and back out under the power lines. Some cairns mark the trail here and a stake with a faint yellow blaze marks a right turn onto the power line cut road. Soon after we located another stake on our left (keep an eye out or use Gaia or you'll miss it). Here the trail turns left crossing over the open swath and enters the woods where there is a cairn making the opening. From here the trail is well-blazed and worn, easy to follow all the way to Bear Mountain. If you get to an overgrown spot or snowmobile road, just look for the next blaze: the trail does not turn onto any of these snowmobile/logging roads. Nice views from Bear Mountain summit. Turned around and backtracked to the Welton Falls junction, turning north and determined to follow those yellow blazes. Cross the power line swath and upon hitting the snowmobile trail on the other side, look left and you will see the wide yellow-blazed trail to your left. Amazingly easy to follow all the way back to original woods road where there is one last blaze before the road. Turn left and follow the route back to the car. |
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 | Name: |
Lady B and Italian |
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 | E-Mail: |
italian10_22@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-04-23 |
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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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