| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bald Land Trail, Scenic Vista Spur, East Branch Road, East Branch Trail, Wild River Trail, Perkins Notch Tentsite Spur, Wildcat River Trail, FR 233 |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, January 10, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Good parking (thank you, Jackson XC) at end of plowing on Carter Notch Road and Black Mtn. Road, with space for many vehicles |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All were frozen over enough to allow safe crossings. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Usual amount of blowdown for this time of year. Bigger one right at the junction of Wild River and East Branch Trails, touching the sign. A few branches were flicked off trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Mountain doggie with us did fine. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Snowshoes car to car (almost) on this seemingly balmy, mostly 30-degree day.
Started on Bald Land Trail, which coincides with a Jackson XC trail for a bit. Not really enough good snow to ski here at the moment, however. We visited the "alleged vista" and looked at some trees. We even did the little spur off the spur, where I remember there being an actual view 10 years ago but not today.
Continuing on BLT we soon took a right off the ski trail onto untracked snow and enjoyed the gentle descent to East Branch Road. Snowshoeing was easy, and there were a few cool erratics in here. Hung a left on East Branch Road 0.4 mile to East Branch Trail. There were fresh snowmobile tracks, and we encountered two parked snow machines at the end of EB Road.
Someone 1? 2? or 3? weeks ago actually snowmobiled up East Branch Trail 1.5 to 2 miles before turning around at a larger stream crossing. Hmm... pretty sure that's illegal, but it made our trek easier. We followed boot prints, then snowshoe tracks of the parked snowmobile owners for almost 5 miles before finally meeting them on their way back near Perkins Notch Tentsite. Had a nice chat with these two interesting young men, they as surprised to see us as we were to see them!
As soon as we crested the height of land on East Branch Trail and dropped to Wild River Trail, it was like the thermostat got turned down 20 degrees momentarily. Also the snow got deeper such that from this point, southwest on Wild River Trail all the way to Wildcat River Trail and down to FR 233, we were legit breaking trail through 4-6" of snow with flourlike consistency. It was not difficult trail breaking, thankfully. The open hardwoods in here are beautiful. Why is Wildcat River Trail to Carter Notch not more popular? Such a nice change from the crowded 19 MB Trail.
We were happy to reach FR 233. Having had enough trail breaking for the day, we opted to take this groomed Jackson XC trail back to parking on Carter Notch Road as opposed to breaking out the shorter but untraveled lower Wildcat River/Bog Brook Trails with their sometimes sketchy stream crossings. The waxing Wolf Moon was gorgeous and provided enough post-sunset light on the snow that we didn't need headlamps for the last little bit. :) |
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 | Name: |
Snowflea & friends |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-01-11 |
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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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