NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Middle Mountain, Bluff Mountain - North Peak, Bluff Mountain - South Peak, VT
Trails
Trails: Unknown Pond Trail, Middle Mountain Trail, Unknown (Bluff Mountain) Trail, bushwhacks, Snowmobile Corridor 111, road walk
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 13, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: we parked road side across the road from the unknown pond trailhead adjacent to hurricane road in warrens gore.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: largest crossing on unknown pond trail had a snow bridge we didn't dare use so crossed just up stream. even small drainages were running strong by the afternoon and crossings could be more difficult than we experienced. descending via the snowmobile trail allowed bridged crossings on all drainages on the way down.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: the "unknown" trail noted above is the new trail running from unknown pond trail over the long bluff mountain ridge to island pond. the section from unknown pond trail to south bluff is marked with flagging and was often straight forward to follow though the deep snow obscured the tape in places. from south bluff heading south the trail was blue blazed.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: full snow coverage right from the trailhead. down low the snow was very wet and unconsolidated and we punched through quite a bit even in largeish snow shoes. once up above 2200 or so the snow was generally more firm with a heavy wet layer on top and was still quite deep up on the ridges. there were signs of prior use to middle and the trail was mostly well blazed and easy to follow though we had to pay attention and did hike off it in a few places. to pick up the trail to bluff ridge we dropped back to unknown pond trail and followed it a couple minutes to where a flagged trail leaves the old road into the pond. this led south along the ridge hitting pretty much every bump along the way. the only spot where we truly lost it was on top of north bluff where the snow was very deep and obscuring the tape so we bushwhacked down to the saddle to its south through the only challenging woods of the day owing to a large stretch of scrappy evergreens. in the saddle we picked the trail back up and were able to pretty well follow it all the way to south bluff. we then doubled back north along the ridge to pick up snowmo corridor 111 which we had crossed in the second saddle south of north bluff. we followed it west all the way down to rt. 114 then had a .5ish road walk back to the car. all summits were still recognized even with the trails running over them. still lots of snow up high on the ridges. my guess is 3-4' on average with numerous deeper sections though with the warm temps it is melting fast. some great views on the ridge north of south bluff into nh.  
Name
Name: bryan, zporterColdRiverCampCook 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bryancuddihee@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-04-14 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved