Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Willard, Hitchcock Flume (attempt), NH |
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| Trails: |
Avalon Trail, Mt. Willard Trail, bushwhack, abandoned Hitchcock Flume Spur, abandoned carriage road |
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| Date of Hike: |
Friday, April 23, 2021 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty at Crawford Depot this morning. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A couple of minor blowdowns along the maintained carriage road portion of Mt. Willard Trail. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Winter was holding onto Willard this morning, but the recent snow was melting fast on the descent. I used spikes for the ascent but could have barebooted down. There was a couple inches of new snow, well packed by boot traffic.
From the ledges I did the short bushwhack to the high point. I started down the old side path to Hitchcock Flume, which was surprisingly clear at the top. About halfway down though where it gets steep it became pretty gnarly with lots of blowdowns and mud / water. I called it here and turned back.
On the descent, I opted to follow the abandoned portion of the old carriage road which leads back to Mt. Willard Trail. It's easily navigable, but massively eroded. The trenches are 10-12 ft. below the former surface of the road.
I think I also spotted where the old auto road joined in with the current trail, but I'm not 100% sure. That's an adventure for a drier day. |
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| Name: |
KenM |
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| E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.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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