| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Success, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Success Trail, Outlook Loop, Mahoosuc Trail, Carlo Col Trail, shelter spur, roads walks |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 21, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
As hoped, the road work crews took the weekend off, making access to Success Pond Rd easy. The road itself was better in its initial sections than I can recall, and after that there's no problems that stand out beyond the usual bony, stony and occasionally uneven surface. I drove between 10 & 20 in my Corolla; but I'd guess a high clearance vehicle would go 30. The side road to Carlo Col's upper TH sign looked pretty decent; Keith's pickup had no problems with it. The side road to Success was rougher, with some rocks to avoid,a high center strip in places and a scooped out area where it splits and ATVs head off to the left. I carefully got my Corolla up it to the TH parking which is in good shape, but it probably would make more sense to park down lower and walk up the road, especially if using a road walk for a loop. There was very little traffic on Success Pond Rd today, which made the road walk better. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock steps |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All signs in place. I took out one modest blowdown on Mahoosuc E of Success. I don't recall any significant blowdowns. Success had running water in the trail in places and some spot muddy areas. Mahoosuc was its usual mix of nice trail, wet ledges, bog/wet areas and scrambles; wetter because of the season. There are a few bog planks under water so wet boots can be expected. Many of the steep wet ledges are okay for ascent as they are rough enough to get traction, but I slowed up considerably on the descents. The scrambles are always tricky; the one in Carlo Col has a bit of ice to add to the fun. But ice is not a significant factor on any of the trails we were on. Parts of Mahoosuc could use some major trail work; far beyond what can be expected of a trail maintainer. Most of the trails we were on were well brushed, perhaps that's because we ran into Keith working on that very issue. Carlo Col trail was the gem of this hike, the re-route section is really nice. A lot of work has gone into making this trail special. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper had fun. The sun was generally blocked and there was a nice breeze in the open areas to keep us cooler. Although there weren't any good sip n dips on the ridges, he could find water to drink, and down lower there were nice dipping spots. There are several tricky scrambles on Mahoosuc that he got up and down before I could get there to spot him. The scramble down into Carlo Col is particularly tough, and there I made sure I got into place to spot him. I couldn't remember what he had done a couple of years ago where there are big overhang boulders with lots of sharp edges. So I backed up against one and offered to catch him but he ended up using me as a mid jump bounce surface and then he was down the trail. My recommendation would be to do this hike first before bringing a dog to assess the risks, and/or have someone with you to assist. |
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 | Bugs: |
There were maybe one or two on the road walks and at the parking area. They weren't an issue. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found a relatively unused pair of gloves east of Success on the Mahoosucs. Keith and I figured they were from the only other hiker we saw all day, a thru hiker. So I left the gloves next to Keith's equipment at the Mahoosuc & Carlo Trail intersection and went over to the shelter to see if he was there, but the place was empty. |
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 | Comments: |
We hiked up Success (and the loop), then west on Mahoosuc to the first knob after getting off that peak, then east on Mahoosuc to Carlo Col, down Carlo Col and road walks back to the car. We met fellow Redliner Keith who was doing trail work and then ended up hiking down Carlo Col with him. That was great, I learned a lot about the trails and their maintenance, it was amazing how many people we both knew and of course we shared some redlining stories.
Mahoosuc and Success are still pretty wet in places, and with bog bridges under water or boggy areas lacking a needed bog bridge, wet feet are a distinct possibility. I slipped on one wet bog bridge and went down to the side and got one foot wet. As always with Mahoosuc, it takes longer to hike a distance than most other places.
It was nice to find the road accessible and drivable, albeit slowly. Thanks Pepper and Keith for a great day on the trails. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-05-21 |
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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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