| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Green Hill, Green Hill - East Peak, Iron Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Iron Mountain Trail, bushwhack, bootleg trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 5, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At the Iron Mountain trailhead near the end of Iron Mountain Road in Jackson. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
This hike was mostly off-trail, but the lower half mile or so of Iron Mountain Trail from the trailhead to summit continues to succumb to severe erosion. At this point, I think it’s probably better off to relocate it but I know that’s no small feat ($$$$). In the meantime, the trail could be reblazed. The old blazes are nearly invisible. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Probably wouldn’t be a good idea with the off-trail route I took. |
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 | Bugs: |
Nope. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
Well, this was more difficult than I anticipated. I walked Iron Mountain Trail to around 2,200 ft., just inside the WMNF boundary, then I took off for the slight col west of Green Hill. Woods were generally open. I hit the ridge in what looked like a piece of the old Duck’s Head Trail which once traversed it. The whacking along the ridge was more dense in general, with pockets of thicker stuff. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either. Little pockets of ledge and brief open corridors helped. The spot elevation on the USGS for Green Hill isn’t the high point. A obviously higher bump just a bit north has a tiny cairn on it.
Just west of the east peak, I popped out into an open ledge area and surprisingly met a group of three who had come up the bootleg trail from the east. They were surprised to see me. :) I followed that trail to the fantastic view ledge on the north side of the summit, where there is a spectacular vista from Iron all the way around to the Doubleheads, including a look straight into Pinkham Notch. Awesome spot.
I backtracked along the ridge over Green Hill again, then set off to intersect Iron Mountain Trail. Going was ok at first, then got progressively worse with thicker, stabby woods. I think I picked up the old trail in spots but can’t be sure (found a small cairn at one point). I did a lot of course correction to try and stay away from the tight woods, but they were unavoidable. I also hit a very steep area of cliffs a short distance east of the trail, and tried to work around them the best I could, but eventually scrambled up. Once reaching the trail, I climbed over the summit of Iron and then descended to the trailhead.
An interesting whack for sure, but I think I’ll take the bootleg trail next time. :) I didn’t see too many traces of the old Duck’s Head Trail along the ridge. Sporadic patches that might have been the corridor and a couple of old cairns, but that was it. It would seem it’s been fully reclaimed by nature. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-10-05 |
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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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