| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Baldface, North Baldface, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Slippery Brook Trail, Bicknell Ridge Trail, Baldface Circle Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 5, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
First car at 0700. Eight or so at 1400 when I got back |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All open but easily crossed. The two big ones on Bicknell are bridged enough to keep snowshoes on. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One massive tree down across lower Bicknell. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One dog had a great day |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Since there hasn't been a trail report since 11/18 I figure I'll get folks up to speed. Decided at the last minute to forgo the Presidentials and stay closer to home. Slippery Brook is a packed skin track/boot track and spikes were perfectly adequate this morning. No sinking at all. Once I broke out on to the first open sections of South Baldface I needed to switch to snowshoes. There were some bony windswept areas but I tried to go around. All track stopped at the summit of South Baldface. I decided to give it a go and do a loop. If you do decide to go on from here know that there are a few sections where I lost the trail corridor and freestyled it. You can see where I paced back and forth in a few places looking for a sign from the hiking gods. Eventually all was good and I made it to North Baldface. Again, coming off of here was a little wonky in spots. Where I really struggled was finding the entry to Bicknell to descend. I went in too far left if you are looking downhill, DO NOT FOLLOW those tracks. Stay closer to the ravine. It was a little sporty getting back on trail. I think ascending Bicknell may have been a better choice as the trail corridor seems better defined when looking uphill. Two guys and a dog followed me out so I did something right. Aside from them in the lot I saw no one all day.
If you precede past South Baldface please have snowshoes. It is deep, drifty, and hopefully with enough folks, getting packed down. Don't dick it up with spikes or bare boots. It will suck for you and people will hate you. |
|
 | Name: |
Seth |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-01-05 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
