Trails Used

Mount Shaw Trail, Black Snout Trail, High Ridge Trail, Big Ball Mountain Trail, Italian Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Mount Shaw trail was surprisingly steep towards the top. It was generally smooth terrain, although some of the steeper sections were a little loose. Black Snout trail and High Ridge trail are both very smooth, and terrain wise are basically logging roads. Some sections of Black Snout trail near the summit of Black Snout were overgrown and a bit tight. As noted above, Big Ball Mountain Trail was overgrown and hard to find from the summit of Black Snout, but it wasn't too hard to follow afterwards. There was a considerable amount of spruce needles in one stretch which made the ground a little slippery. Italian trail was gradual and smooth, and on its own would make a great short hike up to Big Ball Mountain, and the open rocky areas which grant views of the Lakes Region.

Parking

Lot was very full at 9:30, there was only room for one more car. When I got back at 12:00 two spots had opened up.

Water Crossings

A couple of very minor brook crossings on Mount Shaw trail

Wildlife

Very few.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Mt. Roberts Trail, High Ridge Trail, Black Snout Trail, Oak Ridge Cut Off, Upper Bridle Path, Lower Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Notes

Great hike overall. Met one other hiker on the High Ridge Trail, we were both surprised to see another hiker up there on a weekday. Lots of people on the Mt. Roberts trail.The upper part of the Oak Ridge Cut Off was basically a stream running down the trail till I hit the Upper Bridle Path. All the other trails were dry enough to miss most of the mud and water from the previous day's rain.

Parking

Parked at the LRCT trailhead.

Water Crossings

All water crossings were easy to hop over.

Wildlife

Still some black flies, one got me.Lots of mosquitos. With the high winds bugs were not much of an issue.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Road walk, Cold Spring Trail,Faraway Mtn Trail,Oak Ridge Cutoff,High Ridge Trail,Black Snout Trail,Turtleback Mtn Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

1st hike in quite a while, life happens. Wanted something close so this was a great choice. Very gentle grades on all trails. Cutoff was by far the wettest, lots of rock hopping but feet will eventually be wet. Minor snow above 2700 feet, melting fast. Hazy view# from both but still beautiful. Was thinking about grabbing Turtleback as well, weather was moving in so another day. So nice to be back in the woods! Only saw 3 people out.

Parking

2 separate lots

Water Crossings

Bridged

Wildlife

Black flies out & biting

Trails Used

Cold Spring Road, Cold Spring Trail, Faraway Mountain Connector, Faraway Mountain Trail, Oakland Ridge Cut off ,High Ridge Trai.

Trail Conditions

Notes

We checked a couple ways to get to Mt. Shaw. The loop from rt 171, which is partially on private land, and a combination of trails mentioned in two wonderful books about 52 With a View (Thank you Ken M and Dan S). Prema noticed a small change would be a little more direct (and so does the Southern NH trail guide, ⁶4th Edition (thank you, Steve). Before I go any further - FLOWER ALERT! Red Trillum are in bloom, as are a few yellow violets. Many of those violets are right on the trail, so keep an eye out and watch your step. Hike was more strenuous than I expected, but absolutely worth it. Except for one little thing It was beautiful and sunny for 98% of the hike. Guess where the 2% was! It was interesting watching the horizon gradually return to a sunny day, though.

Parking

Parked in the always excellent "hikers only" lot.Space for many properly parked vehicles, with informative kiosk nearby.

Water Crossings

Bridged. The ones that weren't were easy stepovers.

Wildlife

Starting. Wind kept them at bay. Blackflies, mostly

Also on this trip

Notes

Hiker was delayed by an hour and twenty minutes due to forgetting their pack at home and having to turn back. Son met them partway to hand off the pack.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Mt. Roberts Trail, High Ridge Trail, Faraway Mountain Trail, Turtleback Mountain Trail, Bald Knob Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Definitely saw it all today over this almost 18 mile trek. Conditions were terrible and slow going. I bare booted up to Robert’s and that’s where the fun started. I put on my snowshoes (Dion’s worked perfect here) & broke trail for about 10 miles over to Faraway, up to Shaw where I changed into spikes, but then I needed them for Turtleback as well. Yay spring! Someone ahead of me post holed the entire 9 miles that I broke trail to Shaw. I have so many questions. Coming out was very muddy, entire sections of where the trail is a road is collapsing, many breaking ice, bridges, very slippery mud. Lots of water on trail at lower elevations. Still lots of snow up high, some drifts as high as 4 or 5 feet still on the High Ridge Trail. Still somehow one of the best days ever! I got to meet cookies on top and I’ve been reading her trail reports for a while, and it was great to know where the name came from. Your dog is such a sweetie! Hope to see you out there again!

Trails Used

Cold Spring Road, Cold Spring Trail, Faraway Mountain Connector, Faraway Mountain Trail, Oak Ridge Cutoff, High Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

18th/52 WAV for Cody. Not sure the impact of up coming snow storm may have on trails. Currently, the road is free of snow. Lower trails have patches of snow & ice intermittent with patches of bare trail covered in leaves, rocks, running water. Progressively snow increasing with elevation up to Ridge Trail which is mostly postholed snow. It was a day of changing traction. Spikes were helpful at lower elevations, but not entirely ideal since the bare patches (leaves/mud/etc.) were large and snow / ice covered stretches were discontinuous. Snowshoes were helpful on the ridge trail, however, it was very uneven and riddled with postholes and a bit like mashed potatoes. Others said the entire trail from Roberts was similar (postholed, etc.) and very difficult to hike. The snowmo section leading to the summit was minimally snow covered, packed, and could be bare booted. Snowshoes were choice for descent on Ridge trail and Faraway until the bare patches were significant. Only about 8 heading to Shaw today.

Parking

Lots of spaces at Hiker Parking lot

Water Crossings

Step overs maybe from melt / couple of bridges