| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Smarts Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
J Trail, Daniel Doan Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the locked gate on Quinntown Road, limited parking. The last steep uphill to the lot has new stone and is easy to drive. There is larger parking lot at the Daniel Doan Trailhead on Mousley Road. Both gravel roads are in good condition. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, 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: |
Mousely Brook was easily crossed with rock hop |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
J Trail is in good shape with a few blowdowns that require walk around. There is mud with rotten bog bridges at 2700'. The old trail sign to the abandoned Clark Loop is present at a sharp right turn in the trail. Daniel Doan has a few blowdowns and lots of fallen branches on the trail. The muddy reroute around a badly eroded section on the lower trail is marked with pink ties. Daniel Doan requires care to follow, and is sparsely marked with blue. The only summit sign I found to the Daniel Doan trail is on the firewarden's cabin. The upper section is steep, eroded, and slippery. The lower section is very muddy, with logging action. Mike Murphy Spring is plentiful. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
none |
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 | Bugs: |
black flies in the muddy section of Daniel Doan |
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 | Lost and Found: |
My map fell out of my pocket on Daniel Doan. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Both trails are lush with sprouting trout lily, which are starting to pop. The forest is mostly open and hardwood, and would be beautiful as a fall foliage hike. The fire tower is safe and easy to climb, and provides the only views on this loop. Lots of moose sign on J Trail. I scared off a moose, heard the antlers whacking the trees, and also saw a porcupine in a tree. The road walk from Daniel Doan to J Trail was short and quick. Great day! |
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 | Name: |
Barb |
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 | E-Mail: |
Barbaudin@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-05-10 |
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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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