| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Lewis Hill, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Road walk, bushwhack, unknown trails |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, December 20, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at a plowed pullout a bit north of the HOL on Lewis Hill Rd which was decently well plowed and trafficked. My FWD car did just fine getting in and out of there. Ideally, as described below, I’d have parked elsewhere but I didn’t know exactly where the trails were. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The “neighborhood trail†are marked with surveyors tape (usually black and orange) and sometimes blaze (usually yellow or blue) but many trails seemed to be marked with the same color so, without a map, things got confusing. I believe there was one blowdown on the trail I came down (described below). The trails were a bit obscure in some places and I had to look for the surveyors tape on my way down. There didn’t seem to be any blazing in the downhill direction, only in the uphill direction. So, if I ever doubted I was on trail, I’d just look behind me for the yellow blaze. The trails are probably just h easier to follow in summertime when you can see the footbed. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Nice trails for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Day 50, Peak 47. 2nd hike of the day after Peak Above the Nubble. I first was going to hike nearby Beech Hill but there were access issues. Second, I was going to hike Lewis Hill from 142 but I couldn’t find parking so I went around to Lewis Hill Rd instead.
From my parking area a bit north of the HOL, I continued walking north toward a place where they were logging. I saw a road on the far side of it so I whacked into the woods a safe distance beyond the logging, then walked toward the edge of the top of the cut where I saw the road. I followed this road briefly, to another, less prominent road on the right which I took. After a couple minutes on this I found a trail crossing the road marked with orange/black surveyors tape. I took that and it led me in just a few minutes to the clearing that I believe others mentioned in their trail reports from this side of the mountain. Rather than actually go into the clearing though, I just continued to follow this path. This was the wrong call. This path led along the north side of the mountain. I finally gave in and just started whacking to the peak when it seemed that this trail was just going to lead to 142 and not actually go to the summit. Open hardwoods and east-moderate grade. I encountered some pink flagging along the way. I made it to the summit are in 35-40min. No jar or cairn.
I followed a yellow blazed path down that was also marked with the same orange/black surveyors tape. The yellow blazing was only painted on the side of trees that you’d see going uphill though. This path followed the SW ridge of the mountain, passing by a nice view. I was worried that this path may not lead me toward my car either but I finally came out about 1/3mi south of my car on Lewis Hill Rd. The trail ends alongside a farm with fence and cows. You walk alongside the fence back to the road. There were no private property or no trespassing signs although, there was a no parking sign on the road. That said, if I were doing this peak again, I’d look for that small no parking sign on the east side of the road at the HOL, and try to park roadside nearby and do an out and back to the peak that way. I felt like I wasted a lot of time meandering on these trails and it would’ve likely been quicker had I just committed to bushwhacking from the start. C’est la vie. The hike was about 2.25mi with 300ft of gain and took me 1.25hrs, coming out right at dusk. Beautiful road walk back to my car and I ciaghf some very nice sunset colors :)
315 more days and 318 more peaks to go… |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-12-22 |
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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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