| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Hampshire Hills - North Peak, Hampshire Hills - South Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Roads, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 5, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the jct of Route 26 (Upton Rd) and the road that used to lead to a restaurant/tavern. The road is unnamed but shown on Gaia and there is a sign with a moose on it at the start of the road. The start of the road is quite large so I was easily able to pull off to the side. A plow truck used it as a turnaround quite easily with me in there. You could have driven in further (no gate and not private property signs) but the road is unplowed, and I wouldn't take my FWD vehicle up it. Upon walking on it, I realized how it was too. A truck did go up in the morning though; not sure what they were doing. The roads in, namely 16N, had snow/ice on it and wasn't plowed very well. My car struggled some. All clear in the evening when I returned. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing in the col was completely frozen over where I was so I crossed it no problem. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Day 35, Peaks 34&35. Another windy day but some sun. Temps started in the 20s.
I walked in the road, which soon split. The two branches of the road quickly come back together but I bore right which took me past the old restaurant. The road was very icy underneath a slight covering snow and spikes would've been useful though I chose not to put mine on. The road ascends at easy grades to the HOL. I hopped off of it just north of the HOL at about 1725ft and took a right into a logged area and began ascending west toward the peak. Easy grades at first, soon becoming more steep as I exited the logged clearing and entered open hardwoods. Once on the summit plateau, I headed SW to find the highpoint. No jar was found. I suspect that it was on one of a few downed trees.
I headed down the mountain very steeply, just east of south. I crossed a road eventually as the grade became much more gradual. I entered softwoods soon on the other side of the road as I approached the brook that drains the col. It was frozen here so I walked right over it, shuffling my fet so as not to slip on the ice. On the opposite side of the col, I began my ascent up the southern peak. I began in nice open hardwoods, but soon things became sprucy and, of course, incredibly steep. I had to go around some massive blowdowns too. Definitely didn't hit this one right. I went down the northwestern ridge and this proved easier. Should've done that on the way up. I hit the narrow summit ridge and walked along it to the highpoint where there was a jar, finding a road just before this. The road leads to a nice view to the Mahoosucs.
I headed down, but followed the northwest ridge instead which proved much less steep and not to be riddled with blowdowns. Only issue was that in attempting to head NW off the summit plateau, I got off the summit ridge too early and was doing some yucky contouring just below the ridge...foolish. Once back down to the clearcut and roads, I turned right and headed very roughly east toward the road I came in on, but this time a bit south of the HOL. I followed a rough road to do this that was full of cut trees thus wasn't terribly pleasant to walk on. I found a nicer road to walk on shortly before coming to the road I came in on. Once back on the main road, it was a quick walk out, passing by a small dingy on the way!!
The hike was about 6mi (maybe a but under) wuth 1400-1500ft of gain and took a little more than 4hrs. On the whole, it took longer and was a bit more of a pain in the butt than anticipated. 330 more peaks an 329 more days to go... |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-12-07 |
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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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