| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Welch Mountain, Dickey Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Welch-Dickey Loop Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 31, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
A couple dozen cars already but there was still plenty of spots available at 9:15am when we arrived. Large parking area with overflow. Overflow was used and some cars parked “creatively†around 3pm when we got down. Still some room. I thought it’d be busier today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One small brook crossing (rock hop) near the beginning of the Welch Branch. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trail is very well used and eroded with what seemed like a very wide trail at times (people go off trail to avoid mud or pass people and eventually it widens the trail more and more and becomes an issue) but I don’t recall any blowdowns. The trail is well blazed in yellow and easy to follow. They didn’t seem to bother covering up faded old blaze when they replaced it with new blaze. Even the ledges are well blazed thus making it fairly easy to follow above treeline as well. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
We saw several. Suitable for most good hiking dogs but not necessarily for your average dog; your average good doggo at home will not enjoy scrambling up very steep ledge. Many of the dogs we saw today were struggling and probably shouldn’t have been out there. One was whimpering and I think was even crying. The owner continued on nonetheless. It’s hard to watch this happen :( Please don’t put your dog in pain just because you want to hike with your favorite four-legged friend. Most dogs were well behaved today but one owner continued past the summit of Welch as their dog ran around the people eating lunch one of which was evidently very allergic to dogs. Please be considerate and realize that some people may be allergic, afraid of, or have sensory issues with dogs (particularly young children). |
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 | Bugs: |
I didn’t notice any but a couple people I was with said they got bit by a mosquito or two. In any case, they’re mostly gone here :) There’s a bees nest just off trail not too far from the beginning of the Welch Branch. It’s blocekd off but JUST off trail and seemed quite busy for the morning. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Had to go back to Welch Dickey to get the 0.2mi view spur for redlining. Second time doing this loop both times in a clockwise direction as most people prefer to ascend rather than descend the very steep ledges. Always an enjoyable hike :)
Not too much to note. Things are pretty dry, Welch Branch in particular. The Dickey Branch ledges were mostly dry with a minor wet spot here or there mostly close to the summit but there were some puddles (one of which was quite large!!) not far from the summit on the Dickey Branch that you’ll want to avoid. One of us nearly slipped into it. Virtually no mud! The only muddy spot I recall was a tiny little section on the view spur.
The view spur is a classic tail of redlining. Hard to find and hard to follow. Once out of the col and not at all far from the summit, you will ascend up an open steep ledge (just?) after exiting the trees. You’ll then turn left and go through a little “gateway of shrubs†if you will. Immediately after you’ll want to turn right (almost behind you) and look for a little footway through some scrub. This is the start of the spur. The spur is hard to follow but not as difficult as finding it would be if you didn’t have directions. I don’t remember it well enough to be very helpful but i can tell you that it twists and turns some but generally ends up northwestish of the summit. You’ll have some views back to it near its end and close to it. It’s mostly along ledge that isn’t marked and is thus hard to follow but look for the occasional footpath through scrub and footprints. You’ve got to sort of follow your nose a bit. To further complicate things, there seemed to be another faint path leading back to the summit partway along the spur. You know you’re getting close when you can see the people at the summit behind you and a large ledge in front of you through some trees (go around to the right). We tried to go back the way we came but weren’t entirely successful... great views from the ledges towards Sandwich Mtn, the Tripyramids, Green Mtn and the tip of Tecumseh, and many more. There was a stone bench at the end of the spur. Many small rocks seeming to lead to the beginnings of bushwhacks to unknown places...
Some cloud, some sun, cool but not cold temps, and a nice breeze. A great day to hike with family and friends :) |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-08-31 |
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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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