| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Signal Mountain (Errol) , NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Logging road, bushwhack, ATV Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 4, 2022 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
From where I parked on Millsfield Pond Rd to hike Munm Pond Mtn, I continued about 2.5mi NW along the road to a jct. Here I turned right onto what’s evidently Signal Mtn Rd but is shown on Gaia as Pond Brook Rd. I continued about 1.25mi further along this road to the logging road shown on Gaia and parked here. Millsfield Pond Rd should be suitable for any car. Signal Mtn Rd is a bit rougher with some rocks poking out but definitely doable for kid-clearance and possibly for low clearance cars as well. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
N/A |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
|
 | Bugs: |
None that I recall |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Day 308, Peak 288. 2nd peak of the afternoon after Munn Pond Mtn. I saw a line on CalTopo, that went straight to the summit. I figured this was the ATV Trail others had mentioned. There’s two lines on CalTopo that converge partway up the mountain. Didn’t look like the southern one would’ve been affected by the logging but alas I couldn’t find the start of it so I resigned to follow the logging road east for a ways, then, rather than attempt to find this ATV trail others have spoken of, whack up the NW ridge in between the logging cuts shown on Gaia. This actually worked pretty well.
I walked about a 1/2mi east along the grassy but matted down logging road (I think it’s regularly used by ATVs) to where it makes a couple turns and makes a small v-shape. At the western end of this v-shape I turned right and headed south into obnoxiously thick brush. This was just west of a logging cut. I soon came out of the awful brush and into woods. Woods were open hardwoods and I don’t think they were too young. I proceeded south, crossing a drainage once or twice and ascending at gentle grades. Just above 2000ft I passed a clear trail/road. Maybe this was the ATV trail others have spoken of?? I followed it briefly east but it seemed to be leading into a logging cut so I stuck to the good woods I had. Shortly thereafter I got pulled a bit too far to the west (again, my idea was to squeeze in between all the logging cuts shown on Gaia along the ridge) and went through some brush, but soon found good woods again and the ridge became defined. Not too long after the woods transitioned to semi-open hardwoods and the grade increased. Some flagging through here that for awhile seemed to mark a very rough herd path but it eventually disappeared or I lost it. Before I knew it I was passing relics and came to the firetower.
I did not find the register. I’m not sure it’s been taken down as from old photos I saw that a new one was already hung by a a tree with a yellow X so maybe I just wasn’t looking in the right place and it’s been placed away from the tower for fear of it being taken down again. I found the ATV trail heading north off the summit and followed it for a ways but it seemed to be going a bit too far off my bearing for my liking and I new it would eventually end in logs so I contoured briefly back toward the ridge and followed by same line down. I will say that I found that same ATV trail I found around 2000ft a bit higher and it seemed to parallel the logging cut. Not sure if that’s the same one I found and briefly followed off the summit. In any case, I took me 1hr to reach the summit; doesn’t seem like a bad route to me. May be easier than trying to find the old atv trail through the slash but I didn’t do that so I can’t fairly compare.
Total hike was just under 3.5mi with about 1000ft of gain, taking me 2hr15min to complete with a long break up top. 57 more days and 77 more peaks to go… |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2022-09-05 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
