| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Weeks, Middle Weeks, North Weeks, NH |
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 | Trails: |
York Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 28, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Little action at the fish hatchery at 0700. Of note, the perennial question about the gate.... unless you upset someone with access to heavy machinery, they are not going to be able to close it any time soon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings were crossable with care. There is some severe undermining of the ice and while there are sections of fat ice, the lips are very thin - not immediately discernable. Especially with this weeks (no pun intended) warmup and rain, extreme caution should be taken the trio on York Pond Trail |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
How about some blazes on KRT? Or like the section from Middle to South through the minefield of blowdowns that only has blazes on the north side of the tree. Very helpful. Thankfully we where able to make our way more or less by following cut marks on trees |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Snow was powder down low but immediately changed w/ the inversion. Lots of spring like balling. Arktos was having fun but it was decided he and his mom would turn back to keep a good day a good day. I heard mom ordered him a new piece of gear to try and fix that! |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Hear yeeee, hear yeee! Do you like wildly changing trail conditions? Do you like breaking trail in 24" of wet cement snow? Do you like playing post hole roulette? DO YOU LIKE ROCKY BRANCH? Step right up to the Weeks... I see you nodding in the back there Sir.. I see you - you mental patient. Truly conditions in which Quadzilla hikers are born. A FINE day was had in the OG of the WMNF, a trio of peaks named after the creator of the White Mountain National Forest, John W. Weeks. 14 at the car... 44 (forty four) on the summit of S. Weeks. Started off with about 6" of powder, then by the time of the YPT/KRT junction I was down to a tank top and the snow was march/april like sticky. YPT easy to follow. Kilkenny Ridge Trail was its typical self of make your own adventure - we dubbed it "KRT - Interpative". Heavy, wet trailbreaking with 2-4 pounds of snow extra on each foot for every step. Snow depths consistent atleast at about 18-24" on the S side of peaks and 24"+ on north sides. VERY challenging going all day. For the two of us to be moving at a mile an hour trail breaking tells the tale. There is a lot of moose activity through here and likely our trail will be utilized by the moose. It's only fair since we did the same. Noted about 8 moose yards along the way. Our line follows KRT more or less, or the intent of it. If you're breaking trail in winter, and comfortable off trail - and know the area - you can take a couple liberties here and there. 91/100 Winter 100! Attached is a fascinating article about these peaks namesake. |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat, MattJim |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-29 |
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 | Link: |
 https://foresthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2011_John_Weeks_bio.pdf |
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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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