| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bartlett Haystack, Bartlett Haystack - Northeast Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bushwhack, herd path, road walk |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, June 4, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Just north of the HOL on Bear Notch Rd, I turned on to FR44.3 (on CalTopo). On Gaia, this is shown as XB411. This is an entrance to the Bartlett Experimental Forest. Very drivable for all cars. A bit narrow though so you can only park where there’s a pull off. I drove in 1/4mi and found a pullout where I parked. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Drainage crossings were an easy walk across |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Some very steep terrain but nothing so scrambly that hiking dogs probably couldn’t handle. |
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 | Bugs: |
A mix of black flies and mosquitos. I only noticed them when I’d stop at the summits but then they were quite bad and I reapplied bug spray. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Day 216, Peaks 201 & 202. 1st hike of the day. The woods were unfortunately still quite wet from rain the day before when I started around 6:45am which made for a very “saturated” hike.
From my car parked 0.2mi into the road from Bear Notch Rd, I headed into the hardwoods on a direct bearing to the peak. After a short while I found some old skidder roads and things used by the foresters/scientists in the forest. Grades didn’t feel steep at first. I merged with a western ridge around 2300 or 2400ft. I believe this was where the woods also became mixed, then transitioned to softwoods not too long after. The woods thickened some as well and the grade had stiffened but pretty easy to follow the ridge right up to the summit which eventually became quite narrow as a herd path (go figure) also began to appear. I signed in, then followed the herd path a very short way west to a ledge with a great view. I had an undercast which was nest. I actually exercised caution on this ledge as it’s somewhat small and has trees on part of it. A fall would not be good and the rock was slick from the rain.
Thus far, the hike had been very “average”. Open woods have way to some thickness but nothing too bad and though steep, nothing scrambly. Dropping down into the col was more difficult. I retraced my steps maybe a couple hundred feet, looking for what looked like I good slot down. Not sure I found one or if there’s a better spot but I came off the summit very, very steeply, bordering on scrambly at times, and with thick but not terrible woods. Some stakes and such marking the first boundary here. I quickly found myself off-bearing heading too far east. I eventually made my way down the very steep section and into the col which, if I remember correctly, was a bit thick. Lots of meandering to and fro on my part.
Quick but steep ascent up from the col to the summit of NE peak. Not hard to find the jar. Some orange flagging next to it. I wasn’t really sure how I wanted to descend this one. Seemed like most people walked south then followed the drainage to the east to the road and then had a 1+mi road walk back. I headed south of the summit and hit the drainage at about 2100ft. I then headed E/SE to intersect the eastern ridge I’d followed earlier (but intersected much higher up on my ascent) just below 2000ft, then headed south again to hit the road and walk a few hundred feet back to my car. Not a very straight line of a decent but it was pleasant enough and I suspect it’s quicker than following the drainage, then a road walk.
About 3.5mi, 1500ft of gain, 3.5hrs. 149 more days and 163 more peaks to go… |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-06-06 |
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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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