| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Gunstock Mountain, Belknap Mountain, Piper Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gunstock Mountain Trail, Winter Shortcut, Ridge Trail, Brook Trail, Blue Trail, Red Trail, White Trail, Old Piper Trail, Piper-Whiteface Link, Piper Mountain Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 30, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was the 6th car in the Carriage Road lot at 7am. When I returned at 11am, there were 5 total cars including mine. Other parking lots I passed on my way: 2 cars in Mt. Major lot at 6:45am, 4 cars in the Gilford Elementary lot at 11am, room for ~10 more cars in Mt. Major lot at 11:30am (maybe this will be helpful to someone idk) |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw some paw prints in the snow, but no dogs today. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
All kinds of conditions out there. Down low, the trails are a mix of thick ice, dirt, and ice-crusted leaves. Higher in elevation, there's a nice thin layer of snow, packed down enough that you won't hit rock with your spikes. I hiked all the way up Gunstock Mtn. Trail, and then down and up the Winter Shortcut for my redline. The upper part of Gunstock M Trail is VERY thick ice with no snow on top--crampons would be useful. With spikes, I recommend the Winter Shortcut 100%. (I'm talking about the kind of ice where you try to stab your pole in, and there's zero traction. Wigged me out a few times.) I encountered this thick ice/no snow situation a few other times but none were as long in duration or freaked me out as much.
There's a few small drifts from Belknap to Piper, but nothing you need snowshoes for. If you are really itching to get the snowshoes out in the Belknaps, you could use them from Belknap to Piper. Wardens Trail (green) is not broken out, nor is the Piper-Round Pond link (not that there's much to break, but snowshoes wouldn't get banged up).
Ran into one other person today--he was trail-running in microspikes. Although it was cold, it was a nice morning!
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 | Name: |
Caroline K |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-30 |
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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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