| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Starr King, Mt. Waumbek, South Weeks, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Starr King Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, May 5, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The road to Starr King summer TH is in good shape. Any car should be able to get there without issue. Only a few cars there today at our start and return.
Dropped my truck at York Pond Rd. which is also in fine shape, no other vehicles at arrival or pickup. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No crossings. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are two blowdowns just before Starr King, one being an easy step over.
Kilkenny Ridge Trail north or Waumbek (approximately 4.6 mi from TH) encountered the first major obstruction of newer blowdowns that fully blocked the trail. Shortly after was another, then another. In total I counted five walk arounds that will need saw work prior to our turn around 1/4 mi. north or South Weeks' summit. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one pup, Waumbek is a popular K9 hike. |
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 | Bugs: |
None until back at the Starr King TH early afternoon, where small black flies were swarming. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This was an attempt of Kilkenny over the Weeks, Terrace Mountain, and Cabot. However, our pace was drastically reduced due to the conditions so we decided to turn around after South Weeks.
Snow/ice begins around 3k ft on SKT, patchy at first then more significant. Between Starr King and Waumbek there is a monorail, not very high and not too narrow, mostly stable today. North of Waumbek after the view hasn't much recent traffic if any, snowshoes went on here. Evidence of track but no monorail. A mix of deeper drifts to trace amounts to mud. Still some sections of > 2"ft snow with deeper drifts in areas, snow is the rotten spring variety. Typical amounts of moose poop. |
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 | Name: |
Kyle L & E.T. Fudge |
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 | E-Mail: |
kjlanctot g mail |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-05-05 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/9017418490 |
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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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