| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Cabot, NH |
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 | Trails: |
York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 22, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
York Pond Road is well plowed all the way to the parking area at York Pond Trail trailhead. There is ample sand up to the White Mountain National Forest border. After this, there is little to no sand. Any New England vehicle should be fine. I kept the speed under 30 MPH should I encounter ice. This worked well. Both the York Pond Trail and Unknown Pond trailhead lots are WELL PLOWED. Thank you!! |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The larger one near the start of Bunnell Notch Trail is completely iced over. The few remaining exposed creeks are hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs should be fine on these trails. Water is icing quickly, plan accordingly. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
York Pond Trail > Bunnell Notch Trail > Kilkenny Ridge Trail> back the way we came.
York Pond Trail: sign up, legible. This trail is not blazed. Trench simple to follow. Does not appear to be broken out past the junction with Bunnell Notch. Trail not hard packed. Snowshoes recommended.
Bunnell Notch Trail: not blazed. Simple to follow trench. This trail was chewed up. No post holes, but many, many divots. Snowshoes recommended as the footbed has not been set up due to lack of snow until recently.
Kilkenny Ridge: not blazed until after the cabin. Then there are bright, welcome, yellow blazes to the summit of Mt. Cabot. Cabot signs up, legible. Basically, follow the post holes and deep divots. The trail is chewed up like Hubba Bubba gum out of an 8 year old, right fielder’s mouth. Please put on the snowshoes. I mean, you lugged them up a 4000 footer. The snow is finally here… Serious ankle twisting post holes above the cabin, at least when we went through.
End state: we likely encountered 30 hikers today. 5 were wearing snowshoes in conditions that warranted snowshoes (i.e. all rocks covered, water crossing ice bridged, etc). The trail surface had not received enough snow to build up a good walkway until recent storms. But the snow has come so NOW is the time to build up the sidewalk… with snowshoes. I lamented the lack of snowshoe employment with one super awesome lady hiker on trail who made a great point: if most people had been wearing snowshoes today, the trail would have frozen overnight into that perfect sidewalk state we all love (and can micro spike on in freezing temps). There were an inordinate amount of people in bare boots. Is this some social media thing? If so, be a anti-trend setter and wear snowshoes. They are super fly (I’m old, leave me and my 90s epithets alone ;) ).
Great to run into you again, The Teal Goat! I hope you and your friend (I swear I will ask names next time!) found the views you were seeking. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-01-22 |
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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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