| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Baldface (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Baldface Circle Trail, Baldface Knob Trail, Slippery Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 31, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot was half full when arrived at 9am. 3 spots involved mud. 1 person parked on road as they had a Mazda3 hatchback not meant for mud. When returned at 345pm, lot was 1/4 full. Ecotoilets were *excessively* fragrant from 100 feet away in the parking lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All hoppable; brook near Baldface Shelter had decent volume probably due to minor melt |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Please, please put a lower blaze or more cairns on the major scramble (2nd spot of 4 total scrambles) with water flowing from the rocks) after the Baldface shelter. Other hikers and myself spent time trying to figure out where the trail continued. For those wanting to know, try and stay as far as to the LEFT of the rock scramble as possible. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No pups other than one barking at a leaf blower from an adjacent property up 113. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
I summited South Baldface on a glorious December day last year with spikes for the iced-over headwall. I brought a newbie along this time as I figured the headwall of the scramble would have very little ice on it.
Very little snow below 1500 feet, if any. Saw a couple going up to Eastman and 2 trail runners doing the Baldface loop.
After pausing at the shelter for a snack, my novice accomplice froze at the 2nd part of the scramble where the headwall is moist and hikers can't see the next part of the trail. 2 other hikers, males, came by and took a circuitous route to the right in order to get to the high ground without an easier approach, avoiding small patches of ice on the steeper lefthand section. A solo dude hiker yelled to us that the cairn was actually on the left and to stay to the left. I completed this last year in extreme icy conditions and was thus forced to take, at the time, a route of best approach that was not the most direct. Admittedly, I had not done the easiest/direct route in today's conditions and didn't really care if I went out of the way on the ledge/scramble.
After 20 minutes of cajoling, we ended up reaching the cairn/trail again. Unfortunately, the remaining 3 scrambles and the subsequent steep view down dissuaded my hiking partner from trying to summit that day as it was already 1pm when we reached the Baldface Knob/Slippery Brook junction cairn area.
As we descended, the 2-3 inch powder snow depth on the col between Eastman and South Baldface made for "Christmas-like" scenes that brightened my hiking partner's mood and energy. The descent down Slippery Brook Trail's eastern portion was rather uneventful and slightly boring. The lower section could use more blazing. There also appears to be a large clearing on the trail about half way down (on a berm in the trail that extends to the south, ever so slightly) that mysteriously looks like a spot for a tent. I'd also love to explore Chandler Ridge, the other trails abutting/adjacent, and learn more about what appears to be CCC-era marked ski trails (on USGS topo maps as well) from the col between Eastman and South Baldface Knob.
Overall, a good hiking day for me and a learning experience, albeit mostly positive, for my novice occasional hiking accomplice.
Bring microspikes/traction for any future climbs (if you ascend up the headwall after the shelter) here and expect winter conditions above 2000 feet. |
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 | Name: |
Kavinsky |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-11-01 |
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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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