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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Terrace Mountain, Mt. Cabot, The Bulge, The Horn, NH
Trails
Trails: York Pond Trail, Terrace Mountain Spur, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, Unknown Pond Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, September 3, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked in Unknown Pond trailhead lot. This dirt surfaced lot is off York Pond Road, a good gravel road passable by any vehicle. This road is gated with hours posted as open from 8am to 4pm. I left at 4:30pm and the gate was still open. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All are shallow. Most are rock hoppable.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Great trails for dogs. No technical terrain, no cliffs. I kept mine on leash as we are still learning. But friendly dogs were in abundance off leash with no issue. 
Bugs
Bugs: Ha! No! Man was I surprised! 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Haven’t been to the Kilkenny all season. Gasp! Today was a good day to revisit this beautiful area. Ran into some Cohos Thru hikers. Awesome! That trail is on my bucket list for sure!

Suffice to say that ALL Kilkenny trails have muddy parts. Some are small patches, others are vats. All signs up and in good shape. The side trails to the ridge in this area see moderate use which leaves the trail in a much softer, moss covered state than seen elsewhere in the Whites. These trails remind me of a tamer version of Maine.

Route:
York Pond Trail > Terrace Mountain Spur > Kilkenny Ridge Trail > Unknown Pond Trail > end.

York Pond Trail: not blazed. Simple to follow footbed. Some overgrowth in lower elevations. Beautiful, moderate ascent to the Kilkenny ridge.

Terrace Mountain Spur: not blazed. Well defined footpath to the high point. Kind of a view. But, man, it was a beautiful day and I didn’t care about views. ‘Cause there are few views on the Kilkenny.

Kilkenny Ridge Trail: dude. I should have taken notes. But, alas, I’m left with the vestiges of memory… OK. So from the York Pond trail junction to Terrace mountain I saw a few yellow blazes. There were more yellow blazes up to the junction with Bunnell Notch trail. Then not so many blazes (at least that I was paying attention to) to Cabot Cabin. No blazes that I recall from the cabin to the summit (summit signed, carin off a bit into the woods). Yellow blazes start up again, with some predictability, from the summit to the junction with Unknown Pond. Regardless, this is a fantastic trail. It is well thought out and is a lovely walk in the woods. I have been longing to do a traverse of this trail… The trail is a bit dry so account for any extra water needs.

Unknown Pond Trail: I had hiked up an overnight pack intending to stay at the established Unknown Pond Tentsite. But it was a bit full and I was a bit done with backpacking today… So I elected to hike 3 miles back to my car. This trail is unblazed and is overgrown in some sections. The footpath is easily discerned. It is a nice walk out of the woods.

Super friendly folks out today enjoying northern New Hampshire. Thanks for giving these trails some love!  
Name
Name: Remington34 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-09-04 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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