| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Crawford, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Davis Path, Crawford Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 23, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Large, plowed parking lot |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All frozen/bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Nothing of note |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
We had an unfortunate incident. Please see comments. My pup did fine with this trail, and in general it's a great one for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
I hesitated to write this report, because most often dog-related incidents are isolated and instigated by particular interactions. However, after seeing the post from Ian D in the beginning of February and hearing from others who have had unsettling encounters with this particular dog, I feel it is necessary to warn other trail users. Long story short, we had a severe incident with the Notchland dog, Mia (a medium-sized, dark, tri-colored border collie mix). Mia is a frequent flier on this trail and is known to accompany guests or random hikers on this trail, or just take herself on a solo jaunt up the mountain. So, admittedly, my dog can be awkward with other dogs - but is certainly not aggressive. I believe in this instance we came up behind Mia and her group (which did not include Mia's owner), and Mia (over)reacted protectively to my dog's warning woof letting me know there were others in front of us. Details are not pertinent, but please understand this was not a "normal" doggie trail kerfuffle. After my hike, I stopped at the Inn to speak with Mia's owner, and while all involved were certainly apologetic, I did not get the impression there would be an effort to confine Mia to the Notchland Grounds - if that were the case, I would not be submitting this report.
I write this for a couple reasons: one, even if a dog is not yours - in the state of New Hampshire you can be held liable for any damages incurred while the dog is in your "care", which could include if Mia decides to randomly join you for the hike. Given her reactivity, I would discourage users from allowing her to "innocently" accompany you, even though it is charming and she seems fine with humans (and dogs she is familiar with). My second caveat is obviously to other dog owners: beware that Mia is not consistently friendly with other animals, can be savagely protective, and should be approached with caution if you encounter her.
As for the trail itself? It's trashed. Bareboot madness was unleashed on the soft snowy trail over the weekend. I wore snowshoes, would encourage others to do the same moving forward, especially considering the warm temps this week. Even my dog was struggling with the postholes. I considered turning around, and in hindsight definitely should have. |
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 | Name: |
woodsyjess |
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 | E-Mail: |
woodsyjess@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-02-23 |
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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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