| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway, Mt. Katherine, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Flat Mountain Pond Trail, McCrillis Trail, McCrillis Path, bushwhack, Rollins Trail, Diceys Mill Trail, Pasture Path, Tilton Spring Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 24, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Good parking area. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock hops |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Flat Mtn mix of road and trail okay. McCrillis Trail had lots of nice footbed, but also some major mud spots, and spot erosion. It only has scattered old paint, scattered blowdowsn and in places it is faint, but with attention easily followed Rollins pretty good. Dicey's Mill had some drains cleaned in the steeper top section. Some others working but fairly full. Overall in decent shape. The various paths were in great shape, fine footbed and blowdows removed. McCrillis path did have some soft spots but most of it good. There's no certain end to the McCrillis Path but I never found the supposed new trail and ribbons for it, just a melange of skid and haul roads. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper had fun although he probably would have passed on the wack through the brambles. There's very little water from mid McCrillis Trail until up a bit on Dicey's Mill near Walden Trail, so bringing lots of water is a must. He really enjoyed the sippin n dippin down low, and the low paths were full of insolent rodents that needed a reminder the big (little) dog is in town. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few biting blue flies at lunch on the ledged east of Passaconaway. Some deerflies at the end. Now and then a skeeter or two the whole day. But basically, no problems. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Up until the end of the McCrillis Path, this was a nice loop hike, a delightful change from the usual loop from Ferncroft. From a VFTT trip report I expected to see ribbons at the end of McCrillis Path, but no such luck. Plan B was to follow the old trail. I didn't see any good signs of it and the natural route (there were many skid roads intersecting it) took us into what looked like a clearing for a big subdivision. Plan C was to just set a compass bearing and run into the road or Flat Mtn Pond trail. I did that but stupidly cut across the clearing, which degenerated into a thick and high bramble scramble. My shins looked like Freddie Krueger had been hiding in the brambles. We found a good skid road going in the correct direction, followed it and ended up on the road the old McCrillis Path used to end on. If the USFS ever gets the Path completed, and the Trail got a little paint and attention, this would be a fine loop. We didn't see anyone from start to Whiteface to Passaconaway until we left our lunch spot, then we did see several groups, then no one for the latter part of the hike other than Freddie. Mt.Katherine is just some open ledge on a high spot, but it has some nice views, including a unique one of Chocorua. It is well worth the easy side trip. Pepper was such a great companion. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-06-24 |
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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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