| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Trident Mountain (Trident Col Peak), Bald Cap, North Bald Cap, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Bushwhack, Mahoosuc Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked on Success Pond Rd, at a major junction, north of Bald Cap and west of N Bald Cap. The cross road at this junction was gated in both directions with 'Authorized Access Only' signs. There was an ATC truck parked here as well, suggesting they do AT maintenance from the Page Pond access road. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Plenty of dry boggy areas throughout the day. Was able to pass through the bog south of N Bald Cap, but had to skirt the edge as opposed to walk right through to keep the feet dry. Not much water I'd want to drink today. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Champ loved meeting Brutus! Tucker would prefer his solitude. |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
With the signed gate blocking the route to the Page Pond access road, I had to get creative to access it. Once on the Page Pond access road, it was in good shape and easy to make good time on. I followed it until just shy of 2000, where I followed the west branch of Bean Brook drainage. Woods were lovely here, until the bump just NW of Page Pond, where things thickened up. I stayed a bit west of the bump, then a bit west of a straight line to the summit to avoid the steepest stuff, which looked like minor cliffs. Thicker near the summit, but not awful, and found the summit easily.
Decided to adventure and descend the cliffs to the SE. Definitely not easy, but I found a route that was good enough. Wouldn't try this if it weren't bone-dry. Even the base of the cliffs weren't fun for a bit, but then it opened up and before long we were on the AT. Followed the AT east, to just past Wocket Ledge where we launched our whack for Bald Cap. Woods were thick here, but again, not awful. Plenty of dry bog footing made things easier. Also tried to hop from open area to open area using sat imagery, which helped a bit. We followed the SW ridge finding the summit before too long. Fun running into Rem and Brutus here - which was partially planned.
Descended from Bald Cap almost due east in an open mossy drainage to about 2950, then cut almost due south, crossing the drainage and aiming for a bump on the AT, but this area was unpleasant and thick/pokey woods. But still make OK time.
Followed the AT from here to the sharp turn south, just before Gentian Pond where we started whacking. This was the big mistake of the day. Not wanting to sacrifice elevation, we cut north too early /too far the west and ended up side-hilling cliff bands and getting sucked too far up the bump to the west. If I was doing this again, I'd make sure to get into the drainage at about 2250 before trying to head north. We eventually descended back into the drainage once we passed the cliffs, followed it to the open bog and skirted the edge of the bog to the west, before ascending Bald Cap North. Woods were fine going up here and the open ledges towards the summit were a lovely respite. Jar does require going into the woods behind the cairn.
Descended WSW in mostly good woods until I found the old/overgrown logging road, which had plenty of firm young growth to fight through - but still useful. Road kept getting better as we descended and at about 1850 became an almost driveable road we could fly down (note this road has a big vertical rut at the base near success pond rd and isn't actually driveable). Followed this down to Success Pond Rd, then a quick road walk back to the car.
Took about 75 mins from car to Trident, 30 mins from Trident to the AT, 30 mins from Wocket to Bald Cap, 40 mins from Bald Cap back to AT. 1:20 from AT near Gentian to Bald Cap N (probably could have been 1:00 with a better route), and 50 mins from Bald Cap N to Success Pond Rd. |
|
 | Name: |
Big Al Dente |
|
 | E-Mail: |
bigaldentenh@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2025-10-08 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
