Trails Used
Red Hill Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
Trail was damp this morning following the heavy rain this morning (trail drains fairly well, apart from the erosion). Wild columbine in bloom, and I think I saw a fringed polygala. Cloudy (but soon clearing) morning with temperatures in the 50s.
Parking
About half full around lunchtime.
Water Crossings
None
Wildlife
Surprisingly minimal
Trails Used
Red Hill Trail, Cabin Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
Cabin Trail had some mud and running water on the snowmobile trail portion due to a clogged culvert. Some mud up by the cabin as well. Otherwise, trails were fairly dry. Violets in bloom. Warm summer-like morning with temperatures climbing into the 70s under blue skies. A bit of a breeze up high to help keep the black flies at bay.
Parking
A few spaces left this morning.
Water Crossings
Minor hop on Cabin Trail
Wildlife
Black fly season finally arrived. Quite vexing. Saw quite a few bug nets being used.
Trails Used
Red Hill Trail, Cabin Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
Trails were damp this morning following yesterday's rain. These trails generally drain quickly, so there wasn't much mud. Still some trailing arbutus in bloom. Foggy morning with temperatures around 50F.
Water Crossings
Minor on Cabin Trail
Wildlife
Minimal
Trails Used
Red Hill Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
Trail was wet this morning with the light rain. Trail drains well, so no mud to contend with. Trailing arbutus in bloom. Raw, April-like morning with temperatures in the 40s.
Water Crossings
None
Wildlife
None for now.
Also on this trip
Trails Used
Eagle Cliff Trail, Teedie Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
trails are all in decent condition. no snow nor ice anywhere. some soft and wet spots but almost no mud especially when you get up on the ridge. nice views from eagle cliff and the fire tower.
Water Crossings
nope
Wildlife
not yet...
Trails Used
Red Hill Trail, Cabin Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
Cabin Trail still has some snow/ice on the snowmobile portion. Bare thereafter, until near the top, where there's a stretch of flat ice monorail. I was able to get by without traction without issue. Red Hill Trail is essentially snow/ice free and fairly dry. Still a decent amount of ice visible on Winnipesaukee (ice out was declared yesterday afternoon, but that doesn't mean ice-free). Beautiful afternoon with blue skies, a breeze up top, and temperatures around 60F.
Water Crossings
None of significance.
Trails Used
Eagle Cliff Trail, Cabin Trail, Red Hill Trail, Teedie Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
This was not the hike we had planned to do today. We had planned to do the Rattlesnakes on the other side of Squam Lake, but the Rattlesnakes and the Percival-Morgan trails are closed until early May due to mud, and the parking lots are roped off and guarded by police officers and Lakes Region Conservation personnel. Eagle Cliff trail climbs up somewhat steeply to the Eagle cliffs and is a mostly dry, though there are some wet and muddy spots in the early part of the climb. Many of the rocks around the cliff are wet and quite slippery, but that is more to do with wet leaves and moss, and almost no snow and ice here. The descent of the north peak is dry and sometimes hard to follow as much of the leaf litter is still on the trail. Going up to Red Hill there are some large patches of snow still. Most of it is 6in deep or less, so snowshoes/spikes are not needed, but does make the trail a little slippery. Some unstable monorails are also present going up to the summit. Summit is snow free and has 2 very well preserved USGS plaques. Make sure to climb up the firetower for optimal views. Large sections of Cabin trail have snow similar to Eagle Cliff trail. Most of it is shallow, very soft, and there are a few degrading monorails left. Where Cabin trail joins the logging road, there is some very soft and squishy mud, but being a logging road, you can walk around most of it. Red Hill trail is a dry trail the whole way up for all intent and purpose. Teedie trail is mostly dry, but has significant leaf litter that has made the trail blend into the woods and covering up rocks and large roots. There is also a well on Teedie trail that is completely uncovered, we tried to figure out how deep it was but we were unsuccessful. (route was up Eagle Cliff tr. down Cabin tr. to parking lot, up Red Hill tr. down Eagle Cliff tr. to Teedie tr. and down Teedie tr. with short road walk at end) This hike officially brought me across the 25% mark for completed trails on the red line! Only three quarters left to go!
Parking
There is no parking available at the Teedie trailhead. Eagle Cliff trailhead has roadside spots available for about 10 cars if you're lucky, we were the first ones there at 10:30am and the were 4 other cars there at 3:30 when we finished. On the other side of the mountain, the Red Hill parking area is a dirt lot that also holds maybe 10 cars max. There is a very precarious tree that has snapped and is only being held up by a few small branches high in the tree and is leaning over 1 or 2 of the parking spaces.
Water Crossings
No major crossings
Wildlife
A few butterflies have come out. There was one cloud of gnats but they were not interested in people
Trails Used
Red Hill Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
This trail has seen a lot of melting over the past week and, unless we get a frozen precip event of significance, will not require traction or snowshoes for the rest of the season. Just a few small, flat patches of ice remain on this trail. Not too muddy either due to the footbed and exposure. Opted to avoid the Cabin Trail due to expected mud on the lower portion and legacy snow up high. Cloudy afternoon with some mist and temperatures in the upper 30s. Lakes still iced over, but looking increasingly thin.
Water Crossings
None
Trails Used
Red Hill Trail, Cabin Trail
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
Shoulder season conditions continue, but the Red Hill Trail is melting out. Still one stretch of wall to wall ice just above the bridge, then bare ground for awhile, then generally only patch on the upper trail. Cabin Trail snowmobile portion is still about half covered in snow/ice. The upper portion of the trail still has pockets of snow a foot deep that could be a mess when the wet weather arrives; probably a good idea to skip for awhile. Partly sunny afternoon with temperatures in the mid 60s.
Water Crossings
Bridged
Trails Used
Red Hill Trail
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
This south-facing trail is melting out, but still holding onto some legacy snow and ice. With the warmer temperatures today and some of the snow from the beginning of the week still remaining, the ice wasn't too bad. However, light traction may be needed in a few areas with the forecast below freezing temperatures coming. Some ice above the bridge, and then longer stretches of ice and ice monorail up high. Lower half of the trail is otherwise mostly bare, with some mud in a few places. Cloudy afternoon, giving way to light rain, with temperatures in the 50s.
Parking
No issues
Water Crossings
None