| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Potash Mountain, Potash Mountain - South Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
FR 511, Potash Mountain Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 23, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There’s room for a few cars at the start of the logging road. Not too soft or anything. We took two spots and were the first ones there at 9:15am. Another right just after us and parked roadside. Another car when we returned. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
We took the forest road to avoid the only water crossing |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Mt Potash Trail is blazed in yellow and fairly regularly as I remember. There’s one large blowdown not too long after the intersection with FR511. It has a herd path around it. There were some other, smaller blowdowns/debris along the trail as well. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A couple seen. A fine trail for hiking dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Day 174, Peak 160 (I’d already done the main peak of Potash). A beautiful day out for a hike with mom and dad :) We took the logging road in to avoid the water crossing. Gentle grades, not too overgrown, and some views if you look behind you toward rarely seen peaks such as The Captain! Not too wet/muddy either.
We made our way up the trail, first in hardwoods, but soon entering a beautiful hemlock forest. One very large blowdown and a couple others along the way too I believe. Where the trail becomes steeper, eroded, and ledgy, it also became wet, but it was easy to work around the slab (which didn’t seem terribly slick anyway). Snow/ice began to appear a little bit too. The vast majority of people wouldn’t want spikes as it’s pretty minimal though my mom did mention wanting to use them on the descent so they may be worth carrying. That said, I think this was residual snow from earlier in the week thus it will be gone very, very soon and likely already is! Steep hike up to the summit on ledge. What might be called “minor/easy scrambling”. I really enjoyed the view from the summit! We’d been there as a family many years before but I didn’t remember it. Very unique…you get to see the many often hidden slides on the north side of the Sandwich Range in addition to a view of The Captain and Carrigain Notch (which, until I was corrected, foolishly thought was Crawford Notch). Thanks to the lovely couple who took our photo and corrected me regarding Carrigian vs Crawford Notch :)
While my parents continued to enjoy lunch at the summit, I walked all of maybe a couple hundred feet back down the trail before turning right into the woods to whack toward the south peak. Not hard to get from the ledge to the woods. The woods were all softwoods but not thick here. I stayed on the SE side of the ridge for a ways before attaining the HOL along it and followed it SW toward South Potash. The woods were often a bit scratchy but not thick. As the ridge curved more southerly as it begins its ascent toward south peak, the woods become tighter. Nothing terrible though. I followed the summit ridge naturally to the highpoint which was just north of the highest contour on Gaia. I signed in and returned the same way. On the bushwhack, there was often snow of trace/minimal depth that was melting from earlier this week, and, more so closer to the south peak, some occasional snow pack as well but it wasn’t of great depth. Generally speaking, maybe 4-6in. Never more than a foot so postholing was very minimal/mild. A delightful surprise to run into Hiker Dad and daughter on my way down :)
The hike was just under 6mi with about 1800ft of gain. 191 more days and 205 more peaks to go. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-04-26 |
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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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