| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Dickey Mountain, Welch Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Brown Ash Swamp Bike Trail, unnamed trail, Welch-Dickey Loop Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 24, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the Welch-Dickey trailhead off Orris Road in Thornton. Hardly anyone when I arrived but cars were lined up down the road when I returned. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The one crossing on the loop trail was very low and easy. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Brown Ash Swamp Bike Trail has the appearance of being abandoned north of the beaver ponds. Several blowdowns, brushiness and significant mud pits. Still many old yellow blazes from its former life (?) as Dickey Notch Trail. The bootleg trail I used is very clear in some areas and completely obscure in others. In one confusing stretch, I literally went blaze to blaze. It's fairly well marked with blue blazes and flagging. No real issues on the loop trail. Some eroded sections below the lower Welch ledges where people have also worn paths around the rock steps. Why? |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure, but leash them please. |
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 | Bugs: |
Hardly any. It stayed fairly cool all day. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
An unconventional way to do a loop over these peaks.
I walked the bike trail to its northern terminus, then turned right onto what I'm calling the "Mill Brook Valley Trail" (the letters "MV" are painted on ledges near its upper junction with the Welch-Dickey Loop and the bottom provides access to Mill Brook Road). Mostly easy to follow except for some overgrown sections with no footbed. Pretty steep all the way. It reminded me of the bootleg trail on neighboring Fisher Mountain as it climbs some very steep open slabs in its upper half. It ends shortly before reaching the loop trail. You'd really have to be hunting around for the top of it if you didn't know the location.
Once on the loop trail, I continued clockwise over Dickey, taking a side trip out to the great slab to avoid the crowds. I had the whole place to myself. I continued over to Welch, remembering why I don't normally descend this steeper direction. :P Near the lower ledges on Welch, I had to put a group of kids back on trail after they wandered off and I also spoke firmly to two little kids who were moving the logs which protect the vegetation. : /
An interesting way to do these peaks. The views from the open ledges along the bootleg trail were tremendous. Also nice to run into Bryan along the loop trail. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-08-24 |
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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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