IQuest
New member
Up Webster - Jackson, Webster Cliff Tr to Pierce, back to Mizpah Hut, down Mt Clinton Tr, bushwhacked north along the east bank of Dry River, up Mt Eisenhower Tr and Dry River Cutoff to Mt Clinton Tr, then down Mizpah Cutoff, Crawford Path & Saco Lake Tr.
The Mt Clinton Tr is difficult to follow. Blowdowns weren't too bad but it's very grown over, washed out at some crossing, and sees very light use. The lower junction with the Dry River trail has been washed away. Some flagging along the lower half mile or so shows where the trail goes and where to cross the Dry River. The walk up the river was not nearly as bad as expected. Don't be fooled though, there is alot of loose debris along the river and the upper lip of the riverbank is very unstable with large boulders resting in sand. From the woods I could see 4 washed out sections of the Dry River Tr but they had flagging up showing the way around. One section follows the widened river bed for 100 yards or so. The first large tributary washed alot of debris down from the east but there was flagging and travel was straight across. The tributary coming down along the Isolation Tr was fine as was the junction of Dry River and Isolation Tr. Just beyond that I popped out of the woods at the Mt Eisenhower Tr junction and headed back up the ridge. Dry River Cutoff was nice. Never to steep and soft underfoot. There is a little confusion at the first two crossings. The trail goes straight across the first one then 100 feet down the second one then crosses. Flagging will lead you down the first to the confluence then up the second a short distance to the trail.
All other trails were in good shape. It was great to share the toughest 2 miles with John & Pepper.
See full report here: http://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/nh/viewreport.php?entryid=17272
The Mt Clinton Tr is difficult to follow. Blowdowns weren't too bad but it's very grown over, washed out at some crossing, and sees very light use. The lower junction with the Dry River trail has been washed away. Some flagging along the lower half mile or so shows where the trail goes and where to cross the Dry River. The walk up the river was not nearly as bad as expected. Don't be fooled though, there is alot of loose debris along the river and the upper lip of the riverbank is very unstable with large boulders resting in sand. From the woods I could see 4 washed out sections of the Dry River Tr but they had flagging up showing the way around. One section follows the widened river bed for 100 yards or so. The first large tributary washed alot of debris down from the east but there was flagging and travel was straight across. The tributary coming down along the Isolation Tr was fine as was the junction of Dry River and Isolation Tr. Just beyond that I popped out of the woods at the Mt Eisenhower Tr junction and headed back up the ridge. Dry River Cutoff was nice. Never to steep and soft underfoot. There is a little confusion at the first two crossings. The trail goes straight across the first one then 100 feet down the second one then crosses. Flagging will lead you down the first to the confluence then up the second a short distance to the trail.
All other trails were in good shape. It was great to share the toughest 2 miles with John & Pepper.
See full report here: http://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/nh/viewreport.php?entryid=17272
