| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Ragged Jacket, Mt. Meader, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Basin Trail, Blue Brook Connector, Basin Rim Trail, Black Angel Trail, Wild River Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 16, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at the Wild River Trail/Basin Trail parking area. Only a few other vehicles when I arrived at 9 AM, just one other when I got back around 4:20. Wild River Road is quite gravelly but doesn't have a lot of ruts - it's way better than those horrific Baxter State Park dirt roads that I drove last summer. |
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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 crossings of Blue Brook on Basin Trail and Black Angel Trail were fairly straightforward rock hops assuming you have waterproof boots. No other major crossings on this route. I briefly looked at the Wild River crossing on Wild River/Black Angel trails, and it would've been daunting - it probably would've required some significant wading through very cold water. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of blowdowns on all trails (this is a Wilderness, after all). The worst blowdowns were two on Blue Brook Connector and two on Basin Rim Trail that required bushwhacking around. Maybe a half-dozen duckunders and a dozen major stepovers. In addition, there were significant stretches of wet and muddy trail on Basin Trail and Black Angel Trail. All signs were in place, but the sign at the junction of Black Angel Trail and Blue Brook Connector required reading it again to figure it out, since Black Angel Trail from Rim Junction and Blue Brook Connector come into that junction almost right next to each other. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any, but they'd probably be fine. Make sure to follow any dog-related Wilderness Area regulations. I shouldn't have to say this, but don't leave bags of dog poop along the trail. Especially not in a Wilderness area. |
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 | Bugs: |
They're out. Sprayed my clothing with picardin-based repellent at the trailhead and when I had lunch, and they didn't bother me much. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I saw an Adidas baseball cap on the side of Basin Rim Trail while climbing up to Mt. Meader, and a red cord of some sort hanging from the Wilderness Area sign right next to Rim Junction. Left both of them there. |
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 | Comments: |
Can you believe it? More than 50% done with redlining, and I'd never done a hike in the Wild River Wilderness. Well, that ended today.
All of the trails had significant blowdowns and Basin and Black Angel Trails had some wet sections. I didn't have too much trouble following any of the trails - only Black Angel, between Blue Brook and Wild River, occasionally required a little bit of thought. This section, especially the descent into the Wild River Valley, is clearly maintained since the footing on the bits that follow the old logging road is still quite good.
Saw only 4 people all day. Weather was mixed - there were some sprinkles occasionally, and I could hear thunder from far off, but the storm never got to close to me and I never saw any lightning. Didn't see any ice or snow anywhere, however a pair of hikers who I met at the trailhead told me that they had tried to ascend Black Angel Trail to Carter Dome and turned around because they were postholing. If you ever need a demonstration of the awesome power of water, just hike Wild River Trail and you'll get it. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-05-16 |
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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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