| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Cap, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Middle Mountain Trail, Black Cap Connector, Black Cap Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, November 18, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Small lot on Thompson Road can accommodate about a dozen vehicles. Parking not allowed on the roadside.
There has been construction activity on the road from the trailhead toward Pudding Pond. Signs announce trail closure on this road. A temporary trail has been routed through a thicket and wet area. Luckily, there was no construction activity today so hikers were using the road. I saw one hiker attempt the temporary trail but turned back and used the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The water levels are higher than normal. Nevertheless, all crossings were easy since all brooks are narrow. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are generally in good condition.
There is an evergreen across the Black Cap Connector about a third of a mile before the summit just uphill from a TNC & Trail sign. One can skirt the limbs by walking just off the trail. This blockage may be more difficult with a snowpack.
The crown of a hardwood tree across the Black Cap Connector Trail about 5 to 6 feet above the ground. Not a problem with the minimal snow cover. May be more difficult with a snowpack.
One large tree across the Black Cap Connector about 5 to 6 feet above the surface in the blowdown area. This is not a new blowdown. Easy to walk under.
The path arrow sign is missing on the upper junction of the Black Cap Connector Trail and the snowmobile route. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
There was a mixed bag of trail conditions. Some bare ground down low in the PM. Much frozen slush that was soft under the boot. Some stretches of wet leaves and mud. Some of the mud was very watery so a boot will be sucked in. Some rocks covered by the slush/snow is potentially slippery. Thankfully, there are no significant steep ledges on this route. At higher elevations, there was some standing water with a thin ice layer. I punched through one of these ice-covered pools. The maximum snow depth was about 2 or 3 inches.
I recommend using waterproof footwear. Light traction is optional. I would suggest carrying some traction in case you need it. I wore my orange outerwear as its hunting season. Most likely you will not encounter a hunter. I heard rifle shots while I was on Middle Mountain Trail. I think the shots were outside of the Green Hills Preserve.
Some nice views on this route. Best views of Conway Lake, Moat Mountain, and Kearsarge North. The tops of the higher summits were in the clouds. Usually, there is a good view of Mt Washington from the summit of Black Cap.
I did not see any other hikers until I was below the junction with Peaked Mountain Trail on my return. I saw fresh boot prints on the Black Cap Spur Trail from a hiker that must have come up from Cranmore or Hurricane Mountain Road. |
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 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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 | E-Mail: |
waumbek@roadrunner.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-11-18 |
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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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