| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Paugus - South Peak, Mt. Paugus, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Kelley Trail, Lawrence Trail, bushwhack, Lawrence Trail, Old Mast Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 10, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
One side of Ferncroft lot full by 9AM, with plenty of spots on opposite side; some were occupied on return. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All step overs. Although, sections of the Kelly trail required frequent crossings, and occasional travel up the stream. In some sections the ice bridges were breaking apart. This is likely to increase with more melting. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Several trees down along each trail that required 'step/straddle over'; few sections of trail looked to be recently cleared. Overall, trails were in great shape, marked and easy to follow. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good times and easy trail for pups Cooper and Piper. They post holed a few times, even in the center of the trail, but took it in 'stride'. Seemed to enjoy the bushwhack, as well, no trouble for both despite the 2 legged companions sinking into snow to their thighs. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not yet |
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 | Lost and Found: |
N/A |
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 | Comments: |
This trail offer the full range of conditions; just go a quarter / half mile, and it will change....
We were able to bare boot all the way to the south summit. Started dry and leaf covered. At about 1800ft patches of ice, and granular snow dotted the trail. This gradually increased in coverage and depth as ascending to a full monorail. Some sections of the trail seemed to require travel right up the stream where care was taken to carefully choose footing and avoid stepping on ice that could give way as the bridges were melting. Top section (before Lawrence Trail intersection) was snow covered.
Once on the Lawrence trail, the monorail was not as hard packed as trails with more frequent travel, resulting in occasional post-holing. Snow depth was not sufficient to warrant snowshoes, however. A section after the intersection with the cabin trail was dry and leaf covered. The ascent to the south peak was snow / ice covered; the newer trail follows several switchbacks proceeding gradually to the summit.
Hillsound spikes were sufficient for travel back down the alternating patches of snow and ice. We selected the point on the trail that matched the lowest contours of the north peak for the bushwhack. Not sure if this is the route others have taken, but it got us there after a lot of post-holing, and weaving our way through spruce trees. Found the canister, which is a little to north of the summit indicated on Alltrails. Getting back to the Lawrence trail was another adventure through patches of thigh deep snow and spruce trees.
Lawrence trail was a snow covered forming monorail over to Old Mast Rd intersection. Snow coverage continued on Old Mast Rd for a 1/2 mile or so, then abruptly the snow (and our spikes) were gone and the trail was down to dry leaves back to the parking lot.
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|
 | Name: |
CookiesOnTop & Goldrush |
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 | E-Mail: |
schwarzmc at yahoo dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-04-11 |
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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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