| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Suncook Mountain, Belknap Mountain, Gunstock Mountain, Mt. Rowe, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Round Pond Trail, abandoned Fire Road, herd path, Round Pond/Piper Link, bushwhack, Boulder Trail, East Gilford Trail, Blue Trail, herd path, Saddle Trail, Brook Trail, Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 9, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty @ Gunstock. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only a couple of small ones on the Round Pond Trail - no issues. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
These trails are in great shape. I only noticed one blowdown on the smaller side about .75 mile N of Gunstock on the Ridge trail. The BRATTs do a fantastic job with blazing, signage and maintenance in this area. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I saw one with a group of four on the Round Pond/Piper Link and another on the summit of Gunstock. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
From Gunstock I hiked S on the Round Pond Trail then took the abandoned portion of the Fire Road to the saw mill site then a herd path S to the Round Pond/Piper link. From there hiked E to the base of Suncook Mountain where there is a very faint path with occasional flagging to the summit. After return went NW on the Boulder Trail to East Gilford Trail which is a beautiful way to ascend Belknap. When I woke up from a brief snooze there I visited the plane crash site and then continued N toward Gunstock and Rowe.
There are spots of ice above 2000 feet or so on this route but nothing that can't be handled with care. I was surprised how manageable the slabs on the Boulder Trail were: there was some running water and ice trying to hold on here and there but again OK to proceed with caution. FWIW I did pass two gents descending this trail as I was ascending but as always YMMV. The East Gilford Trail up to Belknap had some spots of ice as did the trails between Belknap and Gunstock but they can certainly be trekked without traction. The Ridge Trail S of Gunstock to Rowe was a fine walk.
Other than the folks mentioned above there were a handful of people at the summits of Belknap, Gunstock and Rowe - nobody at Suncook which was 100% expected. Mostly clear skies, lots of sun and coolish temps made for a very comfy hike. Other than the aforementioned three peaks I walked these trails in near complete solitude. |
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 | Name: |
HMJ |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-04-09 |
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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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