| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Cabot, The Bulge, The Horn, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Bunnel Notch Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, March 19, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
York Pond rd and both lots are melted out down to the dirt. No issues driving |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water was flowing but not outrageously high. All crossings were hoppable but some rocks had an icy glaze on them |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns on Unknown Pond trail |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Did a counter clockwise loop to get some hundred highest to end the winter. Trail conditions were excellent all around and everywhere. The recent rain/thaw and subsequent freeze made literally everything rock solid. Spikes all the way today. Even stepping off trail was fine with the hard frozen snow being strong enough to support your weight. The only downside to this was you could easily wander off trail since there was no demarcation between solid and unpacked snow. Unknown pond trail was mostly easy to follow but there are almost no blazes at all so you need to pay a little attention to where you're going. After the pond on Kilkenny Ridge the trail had more blazes but we lost it a few times heading up to the Bulge. At this point, due to the fact that we could literally walk anywhere and not sink, we just aimed for the highest point and went straight for it. This tactic was also useful on the approach to Cabot. The trail on the descent was more well defined and had a slightly elevated, but stable monorail coming off Cabot. Couldn't have asked for better trail conditions today, but this will change once it starts to thaw again. |
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 | Name: |
Ross |
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 | E-Mail: |
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 | Date Submitted: |
2026-03-20 |
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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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