Trails Used
Middle Mountain : Black Cap Connector : Black Cap Spur : Peaked Mountain Connector : Peaked Mountain : Middle Mountain Connector
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
The only people I met were on the Middle Mountain Trail. I was a bit surprised to see a boot trail all the way out to Black Cap Mountain. There is a mix of surface conditions; frozen slush/ice, snow, rock, and soil. The snow is never deep. The deepest snow was in the col below the Black Cap Connector - Mason Brook junction (perhaps 8" inches or so deep). There was some water running on the trail in places, but I've seen worse on this route in the past. Some mud on the Middle Mountain Trail in the warm afternoon sun. An old pair of microspikes worked out fine. Wore gaiters. Snowshoes would be impractical. There were snowmobile tread marks on the Black Cap Spur. The tracks were over snow, ledges, rocks, and the log steps. Great views from Black Cap summit, the ledges on the Peaked Mountain Trail, and a lookout ledge just off the Middle Mountain Connector.
Parking
Plenty of room in the Thompson Street lot that also accommodates walkers to Pudding Pond. This lot can fill up quickly on good weekends and there is no parking on the roadside.
Water Crossings
The only water crossing that isn't narrow was a small brook down low on the Middle Mountain Trail that is spanned by a plank.
Wildlife
Saw a few flying insects