| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Smarts Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Daniel Doan Trail, J Trail, road walk |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 2, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at a kiosk in an open field, signed as part of the Upper Valley Land Trust. This was about 0.25 miles from the official trailhead parking. The official trailhead parking could hold 2-3 cars but a really large pickup was parked in the middle of it.
I continue to be really impressed with Quinntown Road. It’s a really fantastic and well maintained gravel road. There is a sharp curve up a hill to get to the Doan trailhead, and it looks really sketchy with ice on it, but turned out to be no problem at all. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Daniel Doan Trail has quite a few blowdowns, some of which appear to be old. The two major ones are thankfully rotted old birches. All are easy to get over. I moved a really surprising number of stuff off the trail - possibly this week’s winds were unkind to the lower part of the trail.
J Trail has just one blowdown that appears pretty new and is just about exactly between the Smarts summit and Quinntown Road. It’s a stepover and it’s not a birch. The upper part of this trail has grown in and is a bit of a carwash, LOL! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None today, and I didn’t see tha landowner’s dog (start of the Doan Trail), though there were lots of signs and paw prints! |
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 | Bugs: |
:) |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing today. |
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 | Comments: |
My first time to Smarts. Other reports talk about erosion on the upper part of the Doan Trail but with 1-2” ice and snow over deep leaves, I didn’t see it. The relocation, around the mud, also had mud, but is clearly fabulously helpful and much appreciated!! Most of the mud was frozen but you can definitely see where it could be a problem in warmer temperatures. Bare boots until just below the ranger cabin and then microspikes until just before Quinntown Rd. This is a really nice loop, and I would highly recommend it. Even the road walk is idyllic!! The fire tower is in good shape and had great views. I didn’t see anyone until I saw some hunters driving on Quinntown Road when I was road walking back to my car. |
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 | Name: |
Bikecamphikegirl |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-12-02 |
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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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