| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Speckled Mountain , NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bickford Brook Trail, Blueberry Ridge Trail, Bickford Slides Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, October 14, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
$5/day to park at Brickett Place. Very lovely spot. Probably room for about a dozen or so cars. Almost that many when I arrived. Only one left upon my return although a tourist pulled in to take a peek around and we had a very nice conversation :) 113 past the Baldface Circle Loop will probably be gated soon if not already. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing at the intersection of Blueberry Ridge Trail and Bickford Slide Loop was low but there aren’t many rocks to cross on. Someone put a few down to try to help downstream. I’d use caution here as a fall could carry you a ways down “the slide.†It would be very difficult and unsafe in high water. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One large(ish), mostly delimbed, blowdown on Bickford Brook Trail not too long before it’s jct with Spruce Hill Trail. I believe there was another smaller one as well but can’t recall where. Probably on the upper portion of Blueberry Ridge Trail. Hardly any blaze anywhere as this is within a wilderness area but there was some along the ledges of Bluberry Ridge that was mostly old and faded yellow (once or twice I saw yellow over an older turquoise color!). Bickford Brook had no blaze but was very straightforward as it followed a road. Blueberry Ridge was mostly easy but you had to pay attention along to the cairns along the ledges of course. Bickford Slides Loop could be hard to follow. There’s one trail sign just after the spur that descends to the middle pool diverged left, |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I didn’t see any but these would probably be good trails for most hiking dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Redlined the Bickford Brook, Blueberry Ridge, and Bickford Slides Loop trails Monday. I had no idea how much I’d enjoy it :D Bickford Brook Trail was a nice easy climb with lots of pretty leaves along an old road to the jct with Spruce Hill Trail. It was also bone dry to this point. From here to the summit of Speckled Mountain (my first time here - another NH52WAV peak!) was now definitely a trail instead of a road but went through a beautiful field-like area and scrambled up some wet ledge with a little bit of minor mud. The summit was beautiful but I got a late start and there was a very large group up there so I didn’t stay long although I can’t wait to go back! The descent of Blueberry Ridge was mostly steep ledge below treeline to start. It would be VERY tedious if wet. There was minor mud in some spots here with one or two spots of deeper stuff that you’d want to avoid. Also a spot of standing water where you get to rock hop. There was tons of ledge to enjoy here and although I descended the steeper way it’s the way I’d do it again for the views on the way down. Someone wrote in sand/gravel “Best trail in the WM.â€
The Bickford Slides Loop jct right after the crossing confused me. There’s a sign titled “Bickford Slides Loop†that points upstream to the Upoer Slides and downstream to the Lower Slides whereas the book implied that the spur to the lower slides was just after the jct. I followed the spur down to the lower slides which seemed to be right as it ended fairly quickly. The way the water flows over and through the water is gorgeous here. I then went up the Bickford Slides Loop to the Upper Slides. The trail is narrow with a steep drop off, poor footing, and a bit obscure at times. The little side path down to the middle pool is about halfway through and shortly before a cairn and sign pointing in the direction of the trail. It’s a rough walk down to the middle pool but would be an awesome place for a swim!! |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-10-16 |
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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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