| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Moose Mountain - South Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Moose Mountain Trail, Fred Harris Trail, Lodge Access Trail, Nat Thompson Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 6, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
All roads leading to the trailhead on Three Mile Road in Hanover were in good condition. The parking area at the AT crossing is NOT plowed, however it's possible to park a few cars on the side of the road there. Just don't leave cars there overnight if there's snow in the forecast. There seemed to be more parking available at the trailhead of the lodge access trail just down the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Everything was solidly snowbridged. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails were in good condition. All signs at the many junctions were in place. One blowdown on Moose Mountain Trail between Fred Harris Trail and the South Peak, that children or very short adults could walk under, but most adults would need to duck to get under. Other than that, no issues. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Shouldn't have any issues. |
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 | Bugs: |
None - I love winter hiking! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
Showed up at the AT trailhead on Three Mile Road not knowing what the condition of the trail would be. To my relief, the trail was fairly well used by skiers and hikers. It's definitely not solid yet, so snowshoes are definitely the best option. When I reached the junction with Fred Harris Trail, there were tracks in both directions, but more to the left towards the lodge (which is where I was going). Fairly good snowshoe track from there, and then once the lodge access trail joined from the left, the snowshoe track became almost immaculate. Very enjoyable snowshoeing. From the junction of the AT and Fred Harris Trail to the cabin, there are several intersections, but they're all signed, and just remember that you're following Fred Harris Trail until the lodge access trail joins it, and then you're following signs to the lodge itself.
At the lodge, the excellent snowshoe track continued and followed Nat Thompson Trail (the beginning of which has a large orange sign). It starts off fairly steep, then becomes more gradual for a bit, and the final part is a moderate climb until reaching the summit area. It's a nice trail - nothing was too difficult, and the well-packed snowshoe track was an added bonus. Great views from the summit opening at the South Peak.
The snowshoe track coming down Moose Mountain Trail wasn't quite as good as the one on Moose Mountain Trail, but it's still fairly smooth and well-packed and quite easy to follow. This loop is in good condition, and now would be a great time to hike it if you need it for redlining.
Great to see several familiar faces along the way as well! |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-02-06 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.meetup.com/young-redliners-hiking-group/ |
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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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