| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bean Mountain, Kennedy Hill, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bushwhack, Morgan Road, Ridge Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 27, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the entrance to Pillsbury State Park (Pillsbury State Park Rd). The park is not open and is gated but cars park at the start of the road which is plowed to access it. One other car was there when I arrived at 10:15am and there were a few others when I returned at 1:30pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I crossed some drainages on my way down Kennedy Hill |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Day 119, Peak 98. 2nd hike and 2nd and 3rd peaks of the day. Had come from Ames Hill earlier.
From Pillsbury State Park Rd, I crossed Route 31 and entered the woods on the opposite side and headed toward the peak on a bearing just south of west in open woods. Easy grades were had for the first 1/3mi or so, then I ascended moderately-steeply to attain the western ridge of Bean Mtn. As you hit the ridge, you also hit fir trees. I picked my way through this going to and fro until reaching more open woods again. I followed this western ridge up toward the small bump just north of the summit but dropped down into the drainage between the two shortly before and followed this up toward the wind turbines. Once in the open, I headed south toward the summit, ascending one steep pitch that had thick black ice underneath (should’ve gone around). Very windy up there! I found the high point and jar easily enough (by a rock wall).
Once I signed in I roughly retraced my steps for a short ways to the north before heading a little west to intersect Morgan Rd which is the wind turbine access road. I followed Morgan Road, then Ridge Road, which were well plowed, to just east of the small pond that’s 2/3mi from the summit of Kennedy Hill. From this point, I turned right into the woods and headed NE, then E toward the summit of Kennedy Hill, reaching it after about 1/3mi. Lots of walking from bump to bump to reach the highpoint but not hard to find the summit. Unfortunately, the pill bottle was on the ground in the snow and had holes in it. I placed it in the small cairn next to it. My hope is that the bag protected the paper from getting wet but I couldn’t get the bag out from the bottle as it was frozen inside. Hopefully once it’s warmer someone can get the bag out and, if it’s not damaged, place it inside and hang a new bottle. Otherwise, a new register entirely would need to be hung.
From the summit, I headed due south to try and intersect a road I saw on Gaia to the south. I came very close to the road but missed it and it didn’t make sense to force myself onto it at that point as I was below it in elevation. Mostly open woods to this point. I was now in a drainage and followed overgrown roads out to Route 31 finally intersecting the road I wanted to shortly before arriving back on the road. As I neared Route 31, I saw a gate. I passed to the other side of it and looked behind me. The land I was in was a tree farm and private property. There were no signs in the woods on my way down indicating this. That said, this is something to be aware of and coming out on the south side of this road may be a good idea to avoid this apparently posted land.
The hike was about 4.5mi with 900ft of gain, taking me 3hrs. 246 more days and 267 more peaks to go… |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-03-01 |
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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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