| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Meader, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Meader Ridge Trail, Mt. Meader Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, June 5, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for 5-6 cars on the side of Rt 113 in N Chatham. Trailhead is an unmarked truck-width path into the woods, with a telephone pole and a tree with three big blue blazes, but no sign. Easy to drive by. Streeview shows this spot once had a white AMC trail sign, but that is gone. Gaia GPS location is also accurate. One other car at 9am, no additional cars on mid-afternoon return. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Few, easily rock hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Smooth sailing on lower Mt. Meader Trail, clear evidence of trail maintenance. Some leaves along the upper switchbacks, but they are dry, not an issue. A few minor blowdowns. Crumbling bog bridges in the lower slopes, not an issue in current low-water conditions. Trail otherwise in great shape for a less-hiked mountain. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs this day, but I see no problem here for a strong hiking pup. |
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 | Bugs: |
Extreme. A black fly rave at parking for start and return. Mosquitoes vicious in the lower slopes, then black flies again at the summit. Ants at the viewpoint near the summit will take your lunch. And maybe you. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A nice hike on a sweltering day to a lesser-visited peak. A common experience: lower slopes are easy going, upper slopes very steep and strenuous, but switchbacks (!) help tame the elevation. The steep pitches are very strenuous, but not exposed, with good footing. A few bits in the upper sections to use hands, and one chest-high rock scramble, but nothing extreme. Would be more challenging in very wet conditions.
Views: Mt. Meader summit is wooded. A great view to the E-NE a few hundred feet north of the junction with the Meader Ridge/Basin Rim Trails. View just south of the summit along the ridge are impressive. We also did the 0.4m southwest toward Eagle Crag for the viewpoint shown on the map. View is to the Baldfaces. The view is ok, but not spectacular.
We saw only one other hiker and one family all day. For those seeking solace that have done many other hikes, this is a good experience, but many other peaks offer better views for the same or less effort. |
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 | Name: |
Lord Bass |
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 | E-Mail: |
lordbass at gee mail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-06-07 |
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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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