| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Major, Straightback Mountain, Mt. Mack, Mt. Anna, Mt. Klem, Belknap Mountain, Gunstock Mountain, Mt. Rowe, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Belknap Range Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 10, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty @ Gunstock when I dropped of a bike around 7 AM. I got one of the last spots in the Mount Major lot around 7:15. As I was biking back south on Route 11 mid-afternoon I counted 61 vehicles parked on the side of the road with many spaces of those that already left. Just wow. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None of significance on this route. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
About four fallen trees of various sizes on green Round Pond/Piper Link. A couple of others along the way which had branches removed to make for easy passage. All trails are well signed and blazed (as usual). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I saw a few ascending Major in the morning and don't recall seeing any more after that. |
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 | Bugs: |
A couple of flies woke up and enjoyed the nice weather. It won't be long now... |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
Most of the trail segments which make up the BRT are dry with spots of minor mud and/or water. There are a fair amount of leaves down in the middle of the trek. There are also a handful of very short ice patches hanging on in the Blue Trail NW of Belknap - if you combined them all they might total 25 feet, so very minor. I had spikes but they were dead weight.
I have hiked all of these trails multiple times but never in one traverse. I came up with idea of a bike spot** and gave it a go. I was a bit surprised at how many cars were in the Major lot when I started but it didn't seem crowded at all - even at the top. Didn't see too many others until Belknap and Gunstock. Had a nice lunch on Belknap's Boulder Trail. I was surprised to have the Ridge Trail and Rowe nearly to myself. It is my sincere hope that the BRT proper re-routes to the By-Pass Trail E of Rowe to the Gunstock lot as the road walk is a real buzzkill after such a lovely hike. It was a beautiful day with views near and far along with ever changing terrain and I am very glad I came up with a way to do the traverse.
** The bike ride from Gunstock to the Major lot isn't for the timid. Route 11A is windy and hilly with a narrow/crumbling/non-existent shoulder - all the while with cars buzzing by. Then once on Route 11 - with an eventually wider shoulder - cars are likely exceeding the posted 55 MPH speed limit. On the plus side it is generally downhill in this direction so you are probably coasting/braking as much as peddling. Definitely not recommended if you are uncomfortable with these conditions. |
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 | Name: |
HMJ |
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 | E-Mail: |
trailsntrees(at)gmail(dot)com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-04-10 |
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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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