| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
The Bulge, Mt. Cabot, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mill Brook Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Unknown Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, August 14, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Good |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issue |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Minimal |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Two of us did a 2 night backpack hike in the Mt.Cabot area. Arrived at the Mill Brook trailhead in the afternoon. Took a look at the fish hatchery before heading up trail. There were thousands of baby trout. About 3/4's of the way up where the trail levels out had a strong smell of manure. Smelt like there was a dairy farm nearby. No idea were the smell originated from. Made it to the Unknown Pond camp site by 6PM. We were the only ones there for the night. The quiet there was deafening. The campsite is one of the largest I have seen. There are 5 designated sites. There are two fire pits and outhouse and bear box. Water source is the pond on the opposite side of camp entrance. On Day 2 we did a day loop hike. On our hike over to Cabot, met a woman who was doing a southbound trek on the Cohos trail. She said she started at the Canadian border days earlier. Had a nice talk with her. Hit the summit at Cabot and had lunch on the cabin porch. On the way down Cabot met about 7 various hikers on their way up to the summit. As we got to the lower flatter portion of the Bullnell Notch trail thought of bushwhacking over to the Unknown Pond trail via an old logging train trail that was on the Gaia app map so as to save some mileage. As we started the bushwhack to locate the old train trail the area was pretty wet so we aborted that mission and just stuck to that trail. Once on the Unknown Trail it took us less than 2 hours to get back to camp. My partner kept a quick pace on the trail. I was pretty spent the time got into camp. After a nice meal, I used some left over hot water and had a nice sponge bath. It is was refreshing. That night some hikers came in and stayed at the lower campsite. A rain shower and a T-storms came by early that night. Just after midnight while relieving myself I looked up through the trees and noticed the sky were clear of clouds and full of stars. There was a nice cool north breeze the was blowing that made for good sleeping weather. That morning we were up by 4:30 and on the trail by 5:30 by headlamp. About a mile before the end of Unknown Pond trail we saw several deer running into the bush. That was the first time I ever saw deer while hiking the Whites over all these years. Finally got back to the trailhead by 8A after a 2 mile roadwork on the last portion. |
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 | Name: |
Jim S. |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-08-15 |
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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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