| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owlshead (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Owl's Head Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 24, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking area along NH 115 doesn't get plowed, but the shoulder here is currently very wide and there's plenty of room to get well off the travel lanes. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Below the logging road crossing the blazes look like they've been repainted. Above the road they are faded, making the trail corridor difficult to follow in places. Noted some new RMC/CT signs at turns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
If you are planning on hiking this route soon, bring a team of strong friends!
Since I knew the parking area doesn't get plowed, I also knew that Owl's Head Trail doesn't see a lot of action in winter. I was happy to see that one snowshoer had been on the trail; their tracks were covered with a few inches of new snow. Unfortunately, someone in bare boots went out after them and created numerous postholes. Quite a mess. This made using snowshoes a little awkward. Looks like they turned around about a half mile in.
Around the halfway point along the trail, the previous snowshoer also threw in the towel and turned back. I pressed on from that point for about a quarter mile or so, but that quarter mile was very slow going as I sunk down a foot or so with each step, many times deeper. At times I could feel a base underneath but it was hard to stay on it.
Given that I was solo, I was barely moving forward, the snow was only going to get deeper, and the steepest parts of the trail were still ahead of me, I turned back at around 2,000 ft.
Good luck to the next person. Needless to say, snowshoes are essential! |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-02-24 |
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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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