| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Scar Ridge (West Peak), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Access road, ski trails, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, July 16, 2011 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked in lot across from Loon Mt Adventure Center. Ice Cream Stand is great at the end of the hike. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Section between ski trail and W Scar needs a lot of work. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Biting flies were bad on ski trails in the afternoon on hike out. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Svc Road to Camp III Ski Lift, Walking Boss Ski Trails, Out of Bounds Ski Trail
We found the Out of Bounds Ski Trail without much trouble. The entry to the ski trail is located not far from summit area. There is big blue thing on a pole and yellow caution sign. It is probably easier to penetrate in winter when there is 4’ of snow, but is thick with brush now. The herd path travels along at fairly constant bearing. The point at which it starts to turn northward towards Black Mt is fairly obvious. That’s where we began our whack.
The ascent to W Scar from the ski trail was pretty benign. We seem to have stumbled on non-thick route going up taking only 1.5 hours. We essentially followed the spine of the connecting ridge at approx. 3460’. We then headed due east hit the summit cone. The last 300’ to the summit is guarded by blow-downs that were somewhat difficult to get through.
Last visitors to West Scar was Beth and Steve’s party back in 5/22. Almost 2 months ago! Can’t imagine why more people don’t visit more often!
Our route down, although it didn’t differ that greatly from the way up, was awful. It took us 2.15 hours most of the time spent in dubious battle with varying combinations of thick spruce and blow-downs. We actually crossed over our original route. The terrain north of our ascent route was nasty and terrain south of the original route may have been worse.
There is a long steep ledge that runs south of and parallel to the ski trail. Stay away from that thing. We strayed too far south of our original route and had to climb over it at end of our whack to get back to the ski trail. It was not fun. To top it off, in the midst of all of this, I didn’t bring enough water and ran out and started experiencing painful leg cramps. Luckily Mike wisely brought along extra water and saved my butt. |
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 | Name: |
Jazzbo |
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 | E-Mail: |
rdcaron@rcn.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2011-07-17 |
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 | Link: |
 https://jazzbeaux.smugmug.com/Hiking/West-Scar-Ridge-Peak-07162011/18086173_NhL8Vm#1387295240_Wwhq3vB |
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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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