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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Pierce, NH
Trails
Trails: Edmands Path, Eisenhower Loop, Crawford Path, Webster Cliff Trail, Mt. Clinton Trail, Dry River Trail, Eisenhower Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 20, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Edmands lot was full at noon on Friday and we parked on the road.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: When I had to wade through Abenaki Brook at the beginning of Edmands Path at noon on Friday I immediately began to worry about the two crossings of Dry River, but they were both safe, easy fords along with the ~10 crossings on the Mt. Clinton Trail. This was with a dog and a four-year old, FYI. The Mt. Clinton crossings are rougher/trickier than the average brook crossing but no problem for an experienced hiker at this time, despite the heavy rains that had recently occurred. There are rock cairns at every crossing to guide you, as well. Nothing was higher than a few inches above my knee (5'9") and was never that swift. I carried Margaret across four total, and Fin had a blast at each one. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trails were in great shape. Mt. Clinton Trail and Dry River Trail are very rough in spots, as advertised. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: These are great trails for an experienced mountain dog. Super rough at times but never overly steep or scrambly, and water was very abundant 
Bugs
Bugs: very few 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Had a grand adventure with my young child and old dog, earning some fresh redlines along the way. Apparently the area got dumped on before we showed up midday Friday because parts of Edmands was like hiking up a waterfall and Crawford was soaked. Winds were strong enough above treeline to knock Margaret over once and push me around in the large pack. Mt. Clinton trail is rough and wild as advertised. The top quarter mile is littered with blowdowns, but after that the trail was actually very pleasant and enjoyable. The closer to the Dry River we got the rougher the trail/water crossings became, but honestly it was never that bad. Navigation was pretty easy and I only guessed wrong on directions once where the trail drops steeply down a bank towards the final brook crossing. Experienced hikers should have zero issues with this trail. We camped at a designated backcountry site with two nice tent sites that is about 30 seconds north of the Mt. Clinton intersection on the Dry River trail. Dry River Trail north of Clinton is a mix of easy woods walking and really rough relocations/washouts/etc. One washout is particularly spicy/dangerous and not a lot of fun to traverse with a four-year old. High consequence no-fall zone for about twenty feet. We made a detour to Dry River Falls which were raging. We were very grateful that the Mt. Eisenhower Trail is the polar opposite of the Mt. Clinton trail. It is very dry, not rough at all, and generally very pleasant and easy. 28 hours car to car for Margaret's first overnight, which was an overwhelming success. The Dry River Wilderness is about as wildernessy as you can get in the Whites-truly magnificent. Six hikes left to complete my WMNF Redline.  
Name
Name: Spence, Margaret, Fin 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-08-20 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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