| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Table Mountain, Big Attitash Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Attitash Trail, Table Mountain Summit Spur, Moat Mountain Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 9, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room at the Diana's Baths trailhead just after 8 AM, though there are a lot of large potholes in the parking lot. This is a fee lot, and the police patrol it. Three other cars at the Attitash Trail lot when we got there a little later. Attitash lot has a large dip and some protruding rocks - recommend a high-clearance vehicle for it. When we reached Diana's Baths again in the afternoon, the lot was almost full. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The four crossings of Lucy Brook (three on Attitash Trail, one on Moat Mountain Trail) are all rock hoppable with some care, and if you have waterproof boots you should be able to keep your feet dry. The swamp crossing just below the summit of Big Attitash was a challenge - it is possible to keep your feet dry with very careful foot placement, but your boots are going to get wet. Some sturdy bog bridges would fix that (this was the only place on the entire hike where bog bridges would have been useful). |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A bunch of blowdowns. No clusters of them, and not an unusually large number for a hike this long, but still they were there. We took out a few smaller ones, but the ones that remain are probably going to need power tools. All signs that are supposed to be there are there - there was no sign for the Table Mountain Summit Spur, nor was there a sign or any markings at all at the summit of Big Attitash, but I don't think there are supposed to be any. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs might have an issue with the steep gravelly sections going up to Table Mountain. |
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 | Bugs: |
None until we got on Moat Mountain Trail in the afternoon. Bugs were around, but they never got annoying. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None. |
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 | Comments: |
This was a very enjoyable hike, mostly on a lesser-used trail. Attitash Trail was well-trodden up to the view ledges on Table Mountain, though the steep gravelly sections were difficult at times, and the trail wasn't always well marked on the ledges (the trail generally went straight up them). The unmarked side path to the summit of Table Mountain diverges left just a little bit after the highest view ledge - this turn is not marked or signed but is fairly obvious anyway. The side trail also has a steep gravelly section, but is easy to follow.
Then, as we continued east on Attitash Trail, the real adventure began. The first descent into the col between Table Mountain and Big Attitash was quite rough, but not unusually steep. However, the climb up to the ridge of Big Attitash features a very steep section that's not just one pitch, it's a whole series of very steep pitches one after the other without anything between them. Footing on this section is not great - it's somewhat gravelly though not as much as the climb up Table Mountain. Once we were up that, there are several small ups and downs and then a fairly long traverse on a steep, narrow sidehill slope. A couple more ups and downs and we reached the swampy area just below the summit of Big Attitash. There didn't seem to be any wide route around it, so we found some of the drier areas and made it through. Although it isn't obvious, the trail continues straight across the swamp from where it begins. A series of bog bridges would definitely be a major help here.
Just past that is the summit of Big Attitash. It was easy to find what we believe is the highest point, but there was no canister or markings to indicate that. From there, it was a moderate descent into the col between Big Attitash and North Moat, and then as we descended into the valley of Lucy Brook the descent got steeper and rougher on a sidehill. It wasn't too bad though - just take your time and you'll be fine. (One of the biggest blowdowns we encountered was on this section.) Eventually the trail became more gradual and crossed Lucy Brook a few times.
I very much enjoyed Attitash Trail and the feeling of being off the beaten path. While it is undoubtedly rugged, steep in sections, and rough in sections, that's part of the fun, and we did not have much trouble following it. (Then again, we are both experienced hikers.) We saw a few small areas of snow near Big Attitash (not on the trail), and then were some more small patches of snow in the Lucy Brook ravine, at least one below 2,000 feet of elevation (goes to show how little direct sunlight the ravine gets). We also didn't see a soul from Table Mountain all the way to about a half-mile from Diana's Baths. Diana's Baths, of course, was crowded with tourists, some of whom looked askance at our heavy packs and hiking boots while they were in flip-flops and wearing perfume.
Thanks so much Donna for joining me! |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-05-09 |
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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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