| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Moat Mineral Site, Thompson Falls, NH |
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 | Trails: |
FR 380, Moat Mineral Site Trail, FR 379, Thompson Falls Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, November 16, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The gravel portion of High St (FR 379) had some potholes but was passable by any vehicle. It seemed to have a little bit of snow/ice on it but not enough to cause anyone any trouble. I was thrilled to see the gate was open and I’d only be hiking 4.8mi instead of 7mi until I began up it, realized it was all ice and that I wouldn’t make it. Slowly backing up ended up with me in a ditch as I didn’t have control of the wheel. After getting out and kicking our snow/ice from around the wheels and backing it up a few times but to no avail, an older father-son pair of hunters helped me push it out for which I was very grateful as I was about to call AAA. I did luckily have cell service there :) Moral of the story is that it doesn’t matter if you have an SUV with snow tires, you need 4WD/AWD to make it up there. Several large trucks were parked further up the road near the trailhead as was one Subaru Forester (only other hikers). There is a place on the right to park at the gate that I backed into and I was the only car there. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One tiny one on Thompson Falls Trail. No significant crossings but I’d exercise some caution with young children and dogs around Thompson Falls. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The Moat Mineral Site Trail (Mineral Site Trail in some GPS apps if searching for it) is blazed in yellow. It’s blazed very frequently from its southern end on FR 380 to the Mineral Site and then less frequently from there to its northern terminus on FR 379. There’s a stepover on the southern side of the mineral site. Although the trail is obvious, when it intersects with other obvious (mountain biking) trails it isn’t clear which way to go as there aren’t any signs or blaze indicating which way it goes. Although there’s a couple different intersections, the only one I referenced my GPS for (the guidebook also describes this) was the right hand turn at the end of the mining area.
There is no trail sign for the western end of Thompson Falls Trail and it wasn’t blazed. I don’t believe it was signed at its eastern jct either. I was looking for a sign so I ignored the obvious path into the woods 0.2mi west on FR 379 from where I came out on the Mineral Site Trail. If you’re looking to your right it should be easy to see. The guidebook describes it in the other direction (taking a right on FR 379 at the northern end of Mineral Site Trail). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The road was real slick so they may slip and slide on that but other than that it seems like a good trail for them. I’d keep an eye on them near Thompson Falls as you wouldn’t want to fall down there. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
High Street/FR380, Moat Mineral Site Trail, FR 379, Thompson Falls Trail
A short little redline :) Got there between 1:45 and 2pm and got started about a half hour after due to my car debacle. Glad to make it out just after dusk between 4:45 and 5pm walking at a brisk pace (2.9mph according to Gaia).
See my comments above about the road. In short, don’t attempt to drive up it without AWD. The gate will probably close soon anyway. The road walk turns a 4.8mi trip into a 7mi trip.
See my comments above about the lack of signage and blaze on Thompson Falls Trail and tricky turn on Mineral Site Trail.
Wear orange as there are LOTS of hunters out there one of which I ran into right on the trail. All seemed very kind and courteous :)
Fairly flat, easy trail. The only parts that really seemed to go up we’re walking along FR 379 and ascending back up to the mineral site on the switchbacks. The only part you’d really benefit from microspikes on was the road walk. It was tedious to do without them. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-11-18 |
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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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