Trails Used

Potash Mountain Trail, Bushwhack, Downes Brook Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

We went up Potash and started whacking where the trail turns sharply to the north, just shy of the summit. This was a mistake as this was a cliffy area and we ended up too low, SE of the col and side hilling. If I were doing this route again, I'd go to the true summit and launch the whack from there as it looks less cliffy to the SW of the summit. It remained fairly thick after the col as we ascended South Potash. Took us 50 mins to get to the summit once we left the trail and I wasn't excited to do that stretch again, so we audibled and descended to Downes Brook trail. This worked out pretty well. We initially aimed for Downes Brook around 1950ft, but dense woods kept pushing us a bit further north, extending the whack slightly. But no cliff bands and no awful woods. We hit the trail a short distance west of the brook crossing around 1900ft. A quick jaunt out on Downes Brook trail, with numerous water crossings to navigate. Took us 3 hours total. 1 hr up to Potash, 50 mins of whacking over to S Potash. 30 mins down to Downes Brook, then 40 mins to the car on Downes Brook. If I were doing this again, I'd be tempted to out and back via the Downes Brook route.

Water Crossings

Everything was rock-hoppable, though I did intentionally step on a submerged rock on the northernmost crossing on Downes Brook Trail. I'm sure I could have found a dry path across, but I was so close to the car and had a change of shoes there.

Wildlife

negligible

Trails Used

Mt Potash Trail

Trail Conditions

Parking

no bathroom

Water Crossings

A bit difficult to keep dry feet so we went downstream about 5 minutes and saw a log that spanned the entire width of the stream (go past the first log that spans only a portion of the stream). This log is bowed down in the middle.

Wildlife

quite a few

Trails Used

Mt Potash Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

I was pleased that the forest road did not have high grass that may harbor ticks. I don't know if it was due to seasonal dieback or from mowing. There is no sign for the trail as it crosses this road. There are rock stairs on the right side of the road. The trail is a mix of easy hardwood forest path, wet ledges in the evergreen forest, a rock strewn section, and finally a steep ledge section near the summit. Fortunately, the steep ledges were mostly dry. These ledges may be difficult when wet or icy. The trail ends at a rock ledge with a great outlook including Mt Washington in the distance. I did not find any USGS marker. There is a WMNF wilderness stake in the woods near the summit. Nice talking with Jim from Boxborough MA and another hiker from Chester, NH.

Parking

Parked to the side of route 112 just west of the Waterville Valley town line. Do not block the gate for the forest road.

Water Crossings

The crossing of Downes Brook is a challenge. Three hikers made it across with one hiker pointing out that a large rock in the stream was wobbly. Three other hikers decided to skip Mt Potash due to the Downes Brook crossing. I checked out the brook and decided to take the alternative route to Mt Potash by hiking up forest road 511 from the Kancamagus Highway (route 112).

Wildlife

A few flies but thankfully no black flies.