| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bald Cap Ledge (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Peabody Brook Trail, Giant Falls Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 17, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There is currently room for one car to sort of pull off on the south side of North Road. Do NOT park in the driveway that is next to the trail head. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are a few minor blowdowns up until and along the Giant Falls spur trail and a lot of trees heavy with snow, but nothing that can’t be easily navigated. Beyond the spur trail along Peabody Brook is another story. I suspect we were the first people up along this trail in several months. It’s going to need some maintenance come spring. In addition to a number of blowdowns, there appear to be some routing issues, not the least of which was the one that made us turn back short short of the summit. Right where the trail (and Brook) takes a sharp turn to the east at around 2280 feet of elevation, and not more than ten feet after a blaze, the trail ran straight into a thicket. The slope was too steep and overgrown to go around on the right. Normally it could be easily navigated on the left by going up the Brook itself (which is, of course, mostly frozen over). However, right at that exact spot an enormous spruce blowdown bridges the stream making any access that way impossible. It is worth noting that the snow at this elevation is pushing three feet deep (see note below), but regardless, the spruce’s branches make it impossible to go over or under. In short, lots of work to do on this trail at higher elevations. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Perfectly fine for puppos (not counting the ridiculous snow — see below). |
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 | Bugs: |
Very funny. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
My sanity? |
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 | Comments: |
We broke trail on this one the entire way. It was snowshoes right from the start. Depth was 1-3†for most of the first mile or so. Snow was wet and heavy. Got a little deeper along the spur trail to the fall. But then it started to get a little insane along the Brook trail past the spur and especially above the wooden staircase. It was clear that we were the first people who had been up this far since at least last fall so there was little or no discernible trail and the heavy, wet snow was pushing three feet deep by the time we had to turn around. I sunk up to my MID THIGH several times WITH SNOWSHOES. If anyone needs to redline this route and feels like finishing our job ... good luck. |
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 | Name: |
IanD |
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 | E-Mail: |
iantdurham@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-17 |
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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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