| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Garfield, South Twin Mountain, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Osseo Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Twinway, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, July 28, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ample parking at Lincoln Woods for early-morning start and evening finish. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water was flowing at a decent rate, but all significant crossings (two on the Bondcliff Trail, and one bypassing the eternally-closed bridge on the Lincoln Woods Trail) could be rock hopped without much difficulty. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All of these trails are well-traveled and easy to follow. Drainage on the lower 2 miles of the Bondcliff Trail is often poor, with significant mud and water on the footway. Garfield Ridge Trail is always tedious (especially between Mt. Garfield and Galehead Hut), but relatively new bog bridges were definitely appreciated! There were a few minor stepovers, but nothing that required going off trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
If your dog can handle 32.5 miles in a day (31.5 miles for standard Pemi Loop plus a mile for the West Bond round-trip), then it can probably handle all of the segments included here. Garfield Ridge Trail (from North Lafayette to the Gale River Trail junction) would pose a challenge due to frequent scrambling, and the Twinway ascent of South Twin is an arduous and rocky climb. |
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 | Bugs: |
Moderate fly / mosquito presence when stopped during the heat of the day. Used repellent around noon with good effect. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Warm, humid, but beautiful day for a Pemi Loop. Encountered a solo hiker and a group of 3 young men attempting the loop as well- hope they all made it through without [much] difficulty! Flume and Liberty were in the clouds, but the fog started to lift while crossing Franconia Ridge, and above-treeline views were outstanding from Garfield onward. Fluid management was difficult- I noticed early that I was sweating more than usual, and ended up way behind on hydration despite putting down 5.5 liters of water and electrolyte drink during the hike. Trail conditions were generally dry when out in the open, and often the opposite down in the woods- especially in low / flat areas. Rocks were wet and slippery due to recent rain and ongoing humidity- especially on the Garfield Ridge Trail. Mud and water, on the other hand, were most problematic on the Bondcliff Trail below the steep section, and continuing onto the railroad grade of the former Lincoln Woods / Wilderness Trail (east of the footbridge marking the wilderness boundary). Wet feet were essentially unavoidable here- I took a shin-deep plunge into a mud puddle at one point. This may be the first time I appreciated the railroad ties on the Lincoln Woods Trail, because they kept me out of the water! Full route details below on Unnecessary Climb. |
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 | Name: |
Jason |
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 | E-Mail: |
kurlando7@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-07-29 |
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 | Link: |
 https://unnecessaryclimb.wordpress.com/pemi-loop/ |
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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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