Here is what the bridge washout on the Presidential Rail Trail LOOKED like. It is now replaced! The washed out area of the trail in this area may be repaired this week.
Saturday , September 12th, 9:00 pm
1. That detour on Hazen Road is still happening. The bridge work is progressing well, but not done yet! Please see the info below for the detour using Route 3 and Colby Road!
2. The bridge on the Presidential Rail Trail between Gorham and Pondicherry has been redecked. No more "Walking the Plank" required. Sadly, one less adventure on the xNHAT, However, the damage to the trail in the vicinity has not been completed yet, so you still have that adventure to deal with.
3. Here is the latest new adventure: The 4 miles of Rail Trail in the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge are getting a 5 inch frosting of ledgepack this week. The trail is OPEN, you just must pass the construction project with care, and wait if the workers ask you as they move equipment. You will see big trucks delivering the surface materials. The surface will be smoothed and rolled, but in the meantime it is NOT PACKED COMPLETELY, has loose stones and will require some care as you travel through. As of yesterday (Friday, Sept. 11), the new surface material has been applied to the western 2 miles of trail. The crew will be back in there on Monday. It might take some time before the surface packs in to a solid, sturdy ledge pack. The crew will be grading the surface and using a heavy, vibratory roller to set the surface once the application of the surface material is completed.
4. We need rain. The drought is really affecting the waterways alongside the xNHAT. The beaver ponds are almost drained out, streams are almost dry and rivers are very low. Cherry Pond in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, according to David Govatski, is the driest he has seen in his 30 years of being the advocate, chief volunteer and loving father of Pondicherry.
BRIDGE CLOSURE AND DETOUR IN WHITEFIELD ON Hazen Road!!
I found out last Thursday evening (thank you Laurie) about a bridge that is closed and will be under construction in Whitefield, east of the town, west of the airport, on Hazen Road. The bridge is closed and fenced off. This old wooden decked bridge will be replaced, and will be completed in about a month, September 25th or thereabouts. Until then, I have a detour for you. Luckily, it does not really add much distance. You will use Route 3 and Colby Road.
Here is the RideWithGPS map for this detour, this is going WEST to EAST, from Whitefield to the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33927230
Here is the RideWithGPS map for traveling EAST to WEST, from Pondicherry heading to the town of Whitefield:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33927406
GOING EAST, What to do:
On your way east from Littleton, you will enter the town of Whitefield via a nice downhill on Route 116. INSTEAD of taking a left to stay on 116, take a RIGHT onto Route 3. You will go by the Triangle Dairy Bar on the corner (good burgers and good ice cream) and the Dunkin Donuts. Go up Route 3 for 1.6 miles. Route 3 has a narrow shoulder, caution. It is a climb with a short steep section. Take a left onto COLBY ROAD. Enjoy the downhill. After 1.6 miles, turn RIGHT at a signpost (the sign is gone, stolen?) at a small overgrown grassy triangle, Airport Road. You are now back on the official xNHAT route. Continue from here on the xNHAT route around the airport and Presby plastic culvert manufacturing, Presby Transportation, (Presby seems to own everything in Whitefield). Go up the hill and you will see the sign for Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge and the Presidential Recreation Trail. Turn left in here, onto the trail. Porta Potty in the parking lot! Great riding ahead!
GOING WEST, What to do:
As directed on the xNHAT route, after exiting the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge and taking the right onto Airport Road, follow Airport Road as it winds by the airport and Presby manufacturing buildings. When you come to the intersection at an overgrown grassy triangle with a signpost (no sign..) start the DETOUR by taking a LEFT and go up Colby Road about 1.6 miles to intersect with Route 3. Take a RIGHT onto Route 3 and go carefully downhill 1.6 miles into the town of Whitefield. At the intersection with Route 116 (Dunkin Donuts and Triangle Dairy Bar), take a LEFT and start uphill on Route 116. Continue on 116 on the xNHAT route to Littleton.
Below is a annotated map showing the detour:
1. That detour on Hazen Road is still happening. The bridge work is progressing well, but not done yet! Please see the info below for the detour using Route 3 and Colby Road!
2. The bridge on the Presidential Rail Trail between Gorham and Pondicherry has been redecked. No more "Walking the Plank" required. Sadly, one less adventure on the xNHAT, However, the damage to the trail in the vicinity has not been completed yet, so you still have that adventure to deal with.
3. Here is the latest new adventure: The 4 miles of Rail Trail in the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge are getting a 5 inch frosting of ledgepack this week. The trail is OPEN, you just must pass the construction project with care, and wait if the workers ask you as they move equipment. You will see big trucks delivering the surface materials. The surface will be smoothed and rolled, but in the meantime it is NOT PACKED COMPLETELY, has loose stones and will require some care as you travel through. As of yesterday (Friday, Sept. 11), the new surface material has been applied to the western 2 miles of trail. The crew will be back in there on Monday. It might take some time before the surface packs in to a solid, sturdy ledge pack. The crew will be grading the surface and using a heavy, vibratory roller to set the surface once the application of the surface material is completed.
4. We need rain. The drought is really affecting the waterways alongside the xNHAT. The beaver ponds are almost drained out, streams are almost dry and rivers are very low. Cherry Pond in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, according to David Govatski, is the driest he has seen in his 30 years of being the advocate, chief volunteer and loving father of Pondicherry.
BRIDGE CLOSURE AND DETOUR IN WHITEFIELD ON Hazen Road!!
I found out last Thursday evening (thank you Laurie) about a bridge that is closed and will be under construction in Whitefield, east of the town, west of the airport, on Hazen Road. The bridge is closed and fenced off. This old wooden decked bridge will be replaced, and will be completed in about a month, September 25th or thereabouts. Until then, I have a detour for you. Luckily, it does not really add much distance. You will use Route 3 and Colby Road.
Here is the RideWithGPS map for this detour, this is going WEST to EAST, from Whitefield to the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33927230
Here is the RideWithGPS map for traveling EAST to WEST, from Pondicherry heading to the town of Whitefield:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33927406
GOING EAST, What to do:
On your way east from Littleton, you will enter the town of Whitefield via a nice downhill on Route 116. INSTEAD of taking a left to stay on 116, take a RIGHT onto Route 3. You will go by the Triangle Dairy Bar on the corner (good burgers and good ice cream) and the Dunkin Donuts. Go up Route 3 for 1.6 miles. Route 3 has a narrow shoulder, caution. It is a climb with a short steep section. Take a left onto COLBY ROAD. Enjoy the downhill. After 1.6 miles, turn RIGHT at a signpost (the sign is gone, stolen?) at a small overgrown grassy triangle, Airport Road. You are now back on the official xNHAT route. Continue from here on the xNHAT route around the airport and Presby plastic culvert manufacturing, Presby Transportation, (Presby seems to own everything in Whitefield). Go up the hill and you will see the sign for Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge and the Presidential Recreation Trail. Turn left in here, onto the trail. Porta Potty in the parking lot! Great riding ahead!
GOING WEST, What to do:
As directed on the xNHAT route, after exiting the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge and taking the right onto Airport Road, follow Airport Road as it winds by the airport and Presby manufacturing buildings. When you come to the intersection at an overgrown grassy triangle with a signpost (no sign..) start the DETOUR by taking a LEFT and go up Colby Road about 1.6 miles to intersect with Route 3. Take a RIGHT onto Route 3 and go carefully downhill 1.6 miles into the town of Whitefield. At the intersection with Route 116 (Dunkin Donuts and Triangle Dairy Bar), take a LEFT and start uphill on Route 116. Continue on 116 on the xNHAT route to Littleton.
Below is a annotated map showing the detour:
Thursday, August 5th, 9:00 pm
Hogan Road seems to have more loose rock and some washed-out areas than usual, likely from the July 14th storm. I had to walk my bike more than usual when I biked Hogan Road on Tuesday (before Isaias). There is a new bridge installed at the site of the washout. It is high and wide. It takes some of the "adventure" out of Hogan Road, but I guess there is still plenty of adventure remaining to go around.
To find Hogan Road from the rail trail, heading east: The short little access trail is IMMEDIATELY on the right after crossing the short bridge over the power canal (which is currently drained out for repairs). It really, truly is immediately after the bridge, look hard to your right. The access entrance has small signs for the xNHAT and a hiking trail. Use your cue sheet and watch your odometer. If you miss this entrance, you can access Hogan Road from an open parking/work/staging area on the right about 0.1 mile from the small bridge over the power canal.
Thursday, July 23rd, 8:00 am
The section of the Presidential Rail Trail in Gorham east of the fenced ATV parking lot on Route 2 is shared with ATVs. The trail surface conditions include loose pebbles, gravel, sandy areas, ruts, and some good places here and there. We have to share this 1.2 mile section to use the big bridge over the Androscoggin River and Route 16, so, just be patient and wave to the ATVs. The surface conditions require some patience, also. You will escape this "adventure" in 1.2 miles onto the little Hogan Road access trail (access it IMMEDIATELY on the right after crossing the power canal....which is currently drained out for repairs). The access entrance has signs for the xNHAT and a hiking trail.
Update on the Presidential Rail Trail storm damage:
Good news! The bridge washout and landslide area located between Gorham and the Pinkham B Road already has had preliminary work done by the NH Bureau of Trails crew. Using a big backhoe, they have moved all of the rubble and remains of the bridge off to the side of the trail. The bridge will be replaced the week before of after Labor Day. Part of the trail downstream from the bridge was partially washed away. There is no other MAJOR damage interrupting trail usage on the trail between Gorham and the Pinkham B Road. MINOR trail damage has occurred in a few places where the water ran down the doubletrack causing erosion, but these issues can be avoided by being careful and looking for them. Trail users have traversed the damaged area at their own risk, see the photo, above.
So, on the Presidential Rail Trail, within 24 hours of a storm with about 3 inches of rain in an hour, repairs are already underway. Conditions are still variable, so just be on the lookout for damaged areas.
The paving project on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail in the area at the tunnel under Route 302 happened on Thursday, July 16th. The work is completed! Enjoy the more enjoyable and much safer trip through the tunnel and the area around it! This paving and grading project was a collaboration between the NH Bureau of Trails and the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail!
Hogan Road, as of Monday July 20th, was not helped or hurt by the rainstorm. The usual rocky areas and the washouts that date back to October 31, 2017 are still there. There were puddles from a thunderstorm on Sunday night, but they were avoidable. You may see some construction equipment traveling on the eastern end of Hogan Road. Power company vehicles are accessing the power lines for an upgrade project. No closures are expected at this time, I will update on the project when notified.
If you do encounter any new trail damage, let me know by contacting me at crossnewhampshire@gmail.com. Be careful out there!
Welcome to the 2020 Summer Season!!
Due to the challenges of keeping the coronavirus from spreading, cycling and walking should be done only with safety in mind. Proper physical distancing is important, as it is the most likely way to control spread of the virus. The virus cannot walk or bike, it needs us to spread it around. Use a face mask to keep it from getting launched out of your mouth and nose. Use common sense on the trails, the roads and the recreation paths.
Here are guidelines from the Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire: bwanh.org/covid-19-response/
Before you head out for a multi-day trip on the trail, consider your safety. Check lodging and restaurant status. Some lodgings are closed, some will "soft" open, with only a few rooms available. Campgrounds may be restricted to NH residents. Restaurants may be closed, some are providing take-out and delivery. Check before you set out, and be sure to carry some food and beverage because you cannot depend on availability in the towns and villages along the way. This info will be changing as the businesses cautiously open up.
Conditions Update: as of July 21, 2020
It is summer up here! Hot and humid days can happen, be sure to plan your water supply!
Problem #1. DUST can a big issue on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail, and on the Gorham to Hogan Road section on the Presidential Rail Trail. When an ATV goes by on the rail trail, or a car goes by on a dirt road, dust is kicked up. Your tires will kick up dust and it will coat your legs to match the color of the trail surface. Thunderstorms are localized and will help this dust issue in certain places. Your COVID-19 mask will help keep the dust out of your nose and throat!
Problem #2: Ammonoosuc Rail Trail. Summer is the road and trail construction and repair projects time. They are listed below, At present no construction project causes a trail closure or detour. Surface conditions, due to regrading, ditching and resurfacing, DOES have an effect on your ride. This work was needed, and eventually the surfaces will solidify and most of the loose rocks will be packed into the surface by the ATVs or cars. I hope. Those of us doing the trail right now will just have a bit more of an adventure than those who were out there earlier this season before the trail work or later this season after things settle in! It is not impassable, just has various degrees of tedium. Your tire width will help you.... more width, less tedium.
The Most Tedious Area of the Route, Currently:
As of July 21st, IMHO, the most tedious place on the entire route is the first 4.7 miles of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail from Woodsville to Bath (see photo, below). This is because this is the year for a needed maintenance project on the trail. The trail was re-graded, drainage ditches were re-established, potholes and washboard were removed. HOWEVER, the not-as-good news is that medium sized gravel was added to the surface in areas where there has been significant trail damage in the past. Ballast that had been nicely packed into the trail over the past years is now resurrected and out there to bounce over. Although the surface is firm (I thought it would be much softer than it is) the gravel chunks make for a bouncy ride. In a few places the edges of the trail are soft. Once the surface is packed down by the ATVs, the gravel chunks should be pushed into the hardback, making the surface less bumpy. I found that I could find a reasonable line to follow if I stayed in an ATV track on one side of the trail, then switch to the other. The ATVs will do their job to pack it, and a rainstorm or two will also help. For now, it is ridable, but it is slower and more annoying than it should be, likely even more tedious if you have skinnier tires.
The section from Bath to Lisbon has also been re-graded, re-ditched and gravel added to help stabilize the surface. This particular section is not quite as bad, I think, compared to the section from Woodsville to Bath, but still not what it should be after some packing and use. The back road alternate route is a good possibility here. When trying to decide between the rail trail issues and the paved back road, my friends and I decided to ride the rail trail because the day was hot and the shade of the rail trail, even with the rougher surface, was more appealing than the alternate on-back-road route up hill in the hot sunshine. We all survived the rail trail.
The alternate back road route from Bath to Lisbon is a nice ride, it is a good alternate if you had enough of the newly "Maintained" trail. You can use the back roads on the western side of the river from Bath, into Lisbon and rejoin the xNHAT route in Lisbon where it heads towards Bishop Road. This alternate route has a hill, but it is not terrible, and it is scenic, and worth it, It has a nice downhill and a pleasant ride along the river into Lisbon.
This is JUST the on-road route section from Bath to Lisbon: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28541115
The other direction, from Lisbon to Bath: ridewithgps.com/routes/30254175
Here is a link to the alternate route, from Woodsville to Littleton. It uses the rail trail to Bath and the alternate route from Bath to Lisbon, the rest of it is the "original" xNHAT: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32926550
The rail trail is shared with ATVs and some dirt bikes. The sharing has been working well... so far. You will see more ATVs on the weekends than weekdays. The local users tend to be friendly and courteous to cyclists and pedestrians, please be friendly and courteous to them, too! Share the trail.
The xNHAT is beginning a collaboration with the NH Bureau of Trails by financially contributing to some small care and maintenance projects on the rail trail. One of these is the reconstruction of the trail as it passes though a tunnel under Route 302 just south of Lisbon. This tunnel was always a mess: a swamp, a mud bath or a sand box. The approaches leading down to the tunnel were always rocky, sandy and washed out. This area was regraded and PAVED on July 16th.
SO, in conclusion, on the rail trail headed east, once you are past the town of Lisbon, you are all set, the worst is over. To get there, you can choose: ride either the entire rail trail from Woodville to Lisbon, or ride it from Woodsville to Bath, then use the on-road alternate to Lisbon.
Conditions from Lisbon to Littleton:
Bishop Road has some nice new pavement. River Road looks like it was re-graded, so there are more loose stones than usual, but it is fine to ride.
The northern section of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail accessed off of River Road all the way to Littleton, was in fine shape as of June 28th. It had not been re-graded or worked on at all at that potion. I will be there soon to take another look last is as of July 22 and will update this report. The only trail surface anomalies here are provided by the female turtles who are digging holes on the sides of the trail to lay their eggs. They cover up the hole with dirt, but leave an obvious little pile complete with their webbed footprints indicating their efforts to cover and hide their eggs.
Once in the Littleton area, check out the suspension bridge and the bike/ped covered bridge.
Conditions from Littleton to the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in Whitefield:
Route 116 is still the road ride needed to get between these towns. The rail trail will soon be extended part of this way, but the work, supposedly set to start last fall, has not been started. Maybe due to the virus issues? Paperwork issues?? An alternate back road/dirt road route is in development. It is not an easy one, more hilly than Route 116, so the on-road Route 116 will remain. Route 116 is in good shape, has a good shoulder, but there are cars and trucks, so be a good cyclist and share the road... be visible. Typically, in my experience this year, it is much quieter due to the virus's effect on the local economy and slowed tourist season.
Conditions on the Presidential Rail Trail, Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge:
A long awaited restoration and improvement of the Presidential Rail Trail in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge began on June 1st. The parking areas at each end, Hazen Road and Meadow Road (route 115A) were expanded, the trail will has many new culverts installed, drainage ditches were restored and the surface will be improved to hard pack stone dust. THERE ARE 2 PORTA POTTIES at the Airport Road end! The trail work will supposedly continue in late August when a layer of hard packed stone dust will be added to the surface. THE TRAIL REMAINS OPEN for walkers, hikers, cyclists and equestrians, however, when the stone dust is laid, you may need to wait for construction equipment to move out of the way. Make sure the crew knows you are there before proceeding.
Over the past few weeks, 6 "Beaver Deceivers" were installed in ponds adjacent to the rail trail, 3 in Pondicherry, 3 to the east of Route 115. These devices will now maintain the water level in the ponds, as opposed to the industrious beavers who have been maintaining the pond levels to a height which floods the trail causing expensive washouts. The devices also preserve the life of the beavers since the beavers are not tapped and "removed" as nuisances, and the devices preserve the wetlands for all of the other wildlife that depend on them. So far all of the beavers have been deceived, none can figure out this system an all is well. Rain is slowly refilling the ponds to the desired level.
Conditions on Valley Road, the Dirt Section with the Presidential Range Views.
The regrading project appears to be all done. Some washboard is happening, ut you can get around it.
Presidential Rail Trail Jefferson, Randolph to Gorham
In general the rail trail is in good shape. However, keep in mind that this is not a perfectly manicured rail trail, it has good areas and it has not as good areas...and this variety is its beauty. So just watch out for the rogue rocks, soft areas, mud, tall grass. Ticks have not been as big problem this year, likely because of the drought in June, but check for them anyway, partially if you head in to the tall grass. The 10 mile downhill from Bowman to Gorham is a great ride!!
The bridge washout is located 2 miles east of the Pinkham B Road. The big rainstorm on Tuesday, July 14th (over 3 inches in a couple of hours) caused a landslide and blew out the ledgy waterfall on the side of the trail. It took the small, planked wooden bridge out. The NH Bureau of Trails send in their expert backhoe operator to move the debris over to the side of the trail, allowing for passage. The area where the bridge used to be now has a few big wide timbers installed. Bridge replacement will likely happen in August. You can traverse this area at your own risk. The trail became the stream for awhile, so you will need to walk your bike through this area of rubble. Once back on the bike, keep and eye out for the mini-washouts that show up occasionally on on e side of the trail or the other.
The easternmost 1.5 miles of the Presidential Rail Trail (from the parking lot on Route 2 in Gorham to the section with Hogan Road) is shared with ATVs, and is very popular this season. This section includes a big bridge that spans the Ammonoosuc River and Route 16, and a short bridge over the power canal. This shared section can be busy on hot summer weekends. It is already getting churned up and soft due to the ATV use. The best part of this section is the view of Mt Madison from the bridge and the fact that it is only about 1,2 miles long before this shared section is over with. It is not too bad because it is short... grin and bear it, consider it another facet of the "Adventure" in the North Country. The ATVs have access to 1000 miles of trails from here, they can go to Quebec from here, so it is a favorite place for them to explore. Share the trail as best as possible in this section. The dust can be really bad here, get out your mask. Because of washouts on the main trail that heads north form here, the ATVs are more likely to be on the shared section of trail. Wave and smile, it will be done soon.
Conditions on Hogan Road
Hogan Road is in good shape. However, realize that "good shape" means an unmaintained dirt road with occasional rocks, puddles, loose stones, washouts, gravel though soon to repair the bad spots. There are nice smooth areas also, now being coated with a soft layer of pine needles as the trees are shedding. Expect everything. The osprey will likely be upset at you as you travel under its nest area. Look for bald eagles on the river. Stop to enjoy the river and mountain views. Saw a bear in the woods near the trail, make some noise so you both aren't surprised.. Depending on your tires and your confidence and skill, you can either bike the entire length for a challenge, or just hop off and walk short sections to avoid the circumstances. There is another tiny little planked bridge that is starting to fall apart. Water was flowing ON TOP of it. It is, obviously, at the bottom of a hill, so you will see it. WALK your bike over this, there are big holes developing that your tires will fit snugly into, watch for them.
The bigger washed out bridge (from the Oct 31, 2017 storm) is still missing, but an obvious little pathway leads to the brook where you can walk across with your bike. I crossed about 12 hours after a rainstorm of just less than an inch. The brook was about 6 inches deep over the rocks and I managed to get across with only one foot getting a bit wet. Use caution on the rocks if you are wearing bike shoes with the metal clips...
Review of the Three Construction Projects for 2020 (that I have heard of..):
The Ammonoosuc Rail Trail will be extended eastward from Littleton towards Whitefield about 6 miles! Track and ties will be removed soon, This will shorten the distance that one must bike on Route 116, which will be an advantage! The rail trail extension will go along the river for a pleasant scenic alternative to the road, and avoids a few hillclimbs. In the meantime, Route 116 is the only option. Be cautious, wear bright clothing, a blink trail light is helpful for visibility.
The re-grading and re-ditching along the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail from Woodsville to Lisbon appears to be done as of June 23rd.
Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge The Rail Trail work is almost done. All that is left is application of a hardpacked stone dust surface, which should happen in August. No trail closures are anticipated at this point, as pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians will be able to get around this project.
The Israel River Bridge located on the Presidential Rail Trail in Randolph, will be restored this summer, likely in August, due to the concerns about the original hand carved granite footings. The river has had plenty of rushing water and flooding events to assist its way into and around the granite blocks. The bridge will be raised off the pilings and the blocks will be reset. The bridge decking is showing sign of wear, so use caution. The trail will be closed in this area during the work, and a detour will be established and marked during construction.
For a good place to cool off, head down below the bridge to sit on the sand in the shade. Cool off by splashing in the shallow water.
Trail Signs
Some small trail signs posted in some areas (rail trails and dirt and back roads first) over the winter months. It takes awhile to interact with each town and the NH Bureau of Trails (keepers of the rail trails) to get the proper permission to post the signs. They will appear slowly, town by town. For now, use the downloadable cue sheets, the paper map and the RIdeWIthGPS maps. There are a few signs posted on Hogan Road in Gorham and in Shelburne, hopefully they are still there (a few have disappeared).
Reminders:
Your GPS WILL run out of power at some point along the way. Have a back up. Print out and carry a cue sheet. (see maps section). Request a FREE, 7-panel, accordion fold, waterproof, detailed map by emailing a request to crossnewhampshire@gmail.com
Between Woodsville and Whitefield there are typically plenty of possibilities to obtain food and water, however the coronavirus has closed some of them, so check before you go. Whitefield has a small grocery store, a Subway, Triangle Dairy Bar, Dunkin Donuts, a pizza place and a convenience store/gas station. After Whitefield, there is only a small camp store at the Israel River Campground that you can use as a place to get water, drinks and snacks, even ice cream bars. That's it until Gorham, where're you can go a short bit up Jimtown Road to the Mose Brook State park Campground her you can get water and some snacks.You can get off of the trail to access the Main Street of Gorham for supplies via the bike route (it is marked on the map, access is across the street from the big parking lots at an orange gate.
Send me any trail condition updates, wildlife viewing and good food/lodging experiences! Photos, too!!
crossnewhampshire@gmail.coms,
Hogan Road seems to have more loose rock and some washed-out areas than usual, likely from the July 14th storm. I had to walk my bike more than usual when I biked Hogan Road on Tuesday (before Isaias). There is a new bridge installed at the site of the washout. It is high and wide. It takes some of the "adventure" out of Hogan Road, but I guess there is still plenty of adventure remaining to go around.
To find Hogan Road from the rail trail, heading east: The short little access trail is IMMEDIATELY on the right after crossing the short bridge over the power canal (which is currently drained out for repairs). It really, truly is immediately after the bridge, look hard to your right. The access entrance has small signs for the xNHAT and a hiking trail. Use your cue sheet and watch your odometer. If you miss this entrance, you can access Hogan Road from an open parking/work/staging area on the right about 0.1 mile from the small bridge over the power canal.
Thursday, July 23rd, 8:00 am
The section of the Presidential Rail Trail in Gorham east of the fenced ATV parking lot on Route 2 is shared with ATVs. The trail surface conditions include loose pebbles, gravel, sandy areas, ruts, and some good places here and there. We have to share this 1.2 mile section to use the big bridge over the Androscoggin River and Route 16, so, just be patient and wave to the ATVs. The surface conditions require some patience, also. You will escape this "adventure" in 1.2 miles onto the little Hogan Road access trail (access it IMMEDIATELY on the right after crossing the power canal....which is currently drained out for repairs). The access entrance has signs for the xNHAT and a hiking trail.
Update on the Presidential Rail Trail storm damage:
Good news! The bridge washout and landslide area located between Gorham and the Pinkham B Road already has had preliminary work done by the NH Bureau of Trails crew. Using a big backhoe, they have moved all of the rubble and remains of the bridge off to the side of the trail. The bridge will be replaced the week before of after Labor Day. Part of the trail downstream from the bridge was partially washed away. There is no other MAJOR damage interrupting trail usage on the trail between Gorham and the Pinkham B Road. MINOR trail damage has occurred in a few places where the water ran down the doubletrack causing erosion, but these issues can be avoided by being careful and looking for them. Trail users have traversed the damaged area at their own risk, see the photo, above.
So, on the Presidential Rail Trail, within 24 hours of a storm with about 3 inches of rain in an hour, repairs are already underway. Conditions are still variable, so just be on the lookout for damaged areas.
The paving project on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail in the area at the tunnel under Route 302 happened on Thursday, July 16th. The work is completed! Enjoy the more enjoyable and much safer trip through the tunnel and the area around it! This paving and grading project was a collaboration between the NH Bureau of Trails and the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail!
Hogan Road, as of Monday July 20th, was not helped or hurt by the rainstorm. The usual rocky areas and the washouts that date back to October 31, 2017 are still there. There were puddles from a thunderstorm on Sunday night, but they were avoidable. You may see some construction equipment traveling on the eastern end of Hogan Road. Power company vehicles are accessing the power lines for an upgrade project. No closures are expected at this time, I will update on the project when notified.
If you do encounter any new trail damage, let me know by contacting me at crossnewhampshire@gmail.com. Be careful out there!
Welcome to the 2020 Summer Season!!
Due to the challenges of keeping the coronavirus from spreading, cycling and walking should be done only with safety in mind. Proper physical distancing is important, as it is the most likely way to control spread of the virus. The virus cannot walk or bike, it needs us to spread it around. Use a face mask to keep it from getting launched out of your mouth and nose. Use common sense on the trails, the roads and the recreation paths.
Here are guidelines from the Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire: bwanh.org/covid-19-response/
Before you head out for a multi-day trip on the trail, consider your safety. Check lodging and restaurant status. Some lodgings are closed, some will "soft" open, with only a few rooms available. Campgrounds may be restricted to NH residents. Restaurants may be closed, some are providing take-out and delivery. Check before you set out, and be sure to carry some food and beverage because you cannot depend on availability in the towns and villages along the way. This info will be changing as the businesses cautiously open up.
Conditions Update: as of July 21, 2020
It is summer up here! Hot and humid days can happen, be sure to plan your water supply!
Problem #1. DUST can a big issue on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail, and on the Gorham to Hogan Road section on the Presidential Rail Trail. When an ATV goes by on the rail trail, or a car goes by on a dirt road, dust is kicked up. Your tires will kick up dust and it will coat your legs to match the color of the trail surface. Thunderstorms are localized and will help this dust issue in certain places. Your COVID-19 mask will help keep the dust out of your nose and throat!
Problem #2: Ammonoosuc Rail Trail. Summer is the road and trail construction and repair projects time. They are listed below, At present no construction project causes a trail closure or detour. Surface conditions, due to regrading, ditching and resurfacing, DOES have an effect on your ride. This work was needed, and eventually the surfaces will solidify and most of the loose rocks will be packed into the surface by the ATVs or cars. I hope. Those of us doing the trail right now will just have a bit more of an adventure than those who were out there earlier this season before the trail work or later this season after things settle in! It is not impassable, just has various degrees of tedium. Your tire width will help you.... more width, less tedium.
The Most Tedious Area of the Route, Currently:
As of July 21st, IMHO, the most tedious place on the entire route is the first 4.7 miles of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail from Woodsville to Bath (see photo, below). This is because this is the year for a needed maintenance project on the trail. The trail was re-graded, drainage ditches were re-established, potholes and washboard were removed. HOWEVER, the not-as-good news is that medium sized gravel was added to the surface in areas where there has been significant trail damage in the past. Ballast that had been nicely packed into the trail over the past years is now resurrected and out there to bounce over. Although the surface is firm (I thought it would be much softer than it is) the gravel chunks make for a bouncy ride. In a few places the edges of the trail are soft. Once the surface is packed down by the ATVs, the gravel chunks should be pushed into the hardback, making the surface less bumpy. I found that I could find a reasonable line to follow if I stayed in an ATV track on one side of the trail, then switch to the other. The ATVs will do their job to pack it, and a rainstorm or two will also help. For now, it is ridable, but it is slower and more annoying than it should be, likely even more tedious if you have skinnier tires.
The section from Bath to Lisbon has also been re-graded, re-ditched and gravel added to help stabilize the surface. This particular section is not quite as bad, I think, compared to the section from Woodsville to Bath, but still not what it should be after some packing and use. The back road alternate route is a good possibility here. When trying to decide between the rail trail issues and the paved back road, my friends and I decided to ride the rail trail because the day was hot and the shade of the rail trail, even with the rougher surface, was more appealing than the alternate on-back-road route up hill in the hot sunshine. We all survived the rail trail.
The alternate back road route from Bath to Lisbon is a nice ride, it is a good alternate if you had enough of the newly "Maintained" trail. You can use the back roads on the western side of the river from Bath, into Lisbon and rejoin the xNHAT route in Lisbon where it heads towards Bishop Road. This alternate route has a hill, but it is not terrible, and it is scenic, and worth it, It has a nice downhill and a pleasant ride along the river into Lisbon.
This is JUST the on-road route section from Bath to Lisbon: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28541115
The other direction, from Lisbon to Bath: ridewithgps.com/routes/30254175
Here is a link to the alternate route, from Woodsville to Littleton. It uses the rail trail to Bath and the alternate route from Bath to Lisbon, the rest of it is the "original" xNHAT: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32926550
The rail trail is shared with ATVs and some dirt bikes. The sharing has been working well... so far. You will see more ATVs on the weekends than weekdays. The local users tend to be friendly and courteous to cyclists and pedestrians, please be friendly and courteous to them, too! Share the trail.
The xNHAT is beginning a collaboration with the NH Bureau of Trails by financially contributing to some small care and maintenance projects on the rail trail. One of these is the reconstruction of the trail as it passes though a tunnel under Route 302 just south of Lisbon. This tunnel was always a mess: a swamp, a mud bath or a sand box. The approaches leading down to the tunnel were always rocky, sandy and washed out. This area was regraded and PAVED on July 16th.
SO, in conclusion, on the rail trail headed east, once you are past the town of Lisbon, you are all set, the worst is over. To get there, you can choose: ride either the entire rail trail from Woodville to Lisbon, or ride it from Woodsville to Bath, then use the on-road alternate to Lisbon.
Conditions from Lisbon to Littleton:
Bishop Road has some nice new pavement. River Road looks like it was re-graded, so there are more loose stones than usual, but it is fine to ride.
The northern section of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail accessed off of River Road all the way to Littleton, was in fine shape as of June 28th. It had not been re-graded or worked on at all at that potion. I will be there soon to take another look last is as of July 22 and will update this report. The only trail surface anomalies here are provided by the female turtles who are digging holes on the sides of the trail to lay their eggs. They cover up the hole with dirt, but leave an obvious little pile complete with their webbed footprints indicating their efforts to cover and hide their eggs.
Once in the Littleton area, check out the suspension bridge and the bike/ped covered bridge.
Conditions from Littleton to the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in Whitefield:
Route 116 is still the road ride needed to get between these towns. The rail trail will soon be extended part of this way, but the work, supposedly set to start last fall, has not been started. Maybe due to the virus issues? Paperwork issues?? An alternate back road/dirt road route is in development. It is not an easy one, more hilly than Route 116, so the on-road Route 116 will remain. Route 116 is in good shape, has a good shoulder, but there are cars and trucks, so be a good cyclist and share the road... be visible. Typically, in my experience this year, it is much quieter due to the virus's effect on the local economy and slowed tourist season.
Conditions on the Presidential Rail Trail, Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge:
A long awaited restoration and improvement of the Presidential Rail Trail in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge began on June 1st. The parking areas at each end, Hazen Road and Meadow Road (route 115A) were expanded, the trail will has many new culverts installed, drainage ditches were restored and the surface will be improved to hard pack stone dust. THERE ARE 2 PORTA POTTIES at the Airport Road end! The trail work will supposedly continue in late August when a layer of hard packed stone dust will be added to the surface. THE TRAIL REMAINS OPEN for walkers, hikers, cyclists and equestrians, however, when the stone dust is laid, you may need to wait for construction equipment to move out of the way. Make sure the crew knows you are there before proceeding.
Over the past few weeks, 6 "Beaver Deceivers" were installed in ponds adjacent to the rail trail, 3 in Pondicherry, 3 to the east of Route 115. These devices will now maintain the water level in the ponds, as opposed to the industrious beavers who have been maintaining the pond levels to a height which floods the trail causing expensive washouts. The devices also preserve the life of the beavers since the beavers are not tapped and "removed" as nuisances, and the devices preserve the wetlands for all of the other wildlife that depend on them. So far all of the beavers have been deceived, none can figure out this system an all is well. Rain is slowly refilling the ponds to the desired level.
Conditions on Valley Road, the Dirt Section with the Presidential Range Views.
The regrading project appears to be all done. Some washboard is happening, ut you can get around it.
Presidential Rail Trail Jefferson, Randolph to Gorham
In general the rail trail is in good shape. However, keep in mind that this is not a perfectly manicured rail trail, it has good areas and it has not as good areas...and this variety is its beauty. So just watch out for the rogue rocks, soft areas, mud, tall grass. Ticks have not been as big problem this year, likely because of the drought in June, but check for them anyway, partially if you head in to the tall grass. The 10 mile downhill from Bowman to Gorham is a great ride!!
The bridge washout is located 2 miles east of the Pinkham B Road. The big rainstorm on Tuesday, July 14th (over 3 inches in a couple of hours) caused a landslide and blew out the ledgy waterfall on the side of the trail. It took the small, planked wooden bridge out. The NH Bureau of Trails send in their expert backhoe operator to move the debris over to the side of the trail, allowing for passage. The area where the bridge used to be now has a few big wide timbers installed. Bridge replacement will likely happen in August. You can traverse this area at your own risk. The trail became the stream for awhile, so you will need to walk your bike through this area of rubble. Once back on the bike, keep and eye out for the mini-washouts that show up occasionally on on e side of the trail or the other.
The easternmost 1.5 miles of the Presidential Rail Trail (from the parking lot on Route 2 in Gorham to the section with Hogan Road) is shared with ATVs, and is very popular this season. This section includes a big bridge that spans the Ammonoosuc River and Route 16, and a short bridge over the power canal. This shared section can be busy on hot summer weekends. It is already getting churned up and soft due to the ATV use. The best part of this section is the view of Mt Madison from the bridge and the fact that it is only about 1,2 miles long before this shared section is over with. It is not too bad because it is short... grin and bear it, consider it another facet of the "Adventure" in the North Country. The ATVs have access to 1000 miles of trails from here, they can go to Quebec from here, so it is a favorite place for them to explore. Share the trail as best as possible in this section. The dust can be really bad here, get out your mask. Because of washouts on the main trail that heads north form here, the ATVs are more likely to be on the shared section of trail. Wave and smile, it will be done soon.
Conditions on Hogan Road
Hogan Road is in good shape. However, realize that "good shape" means an unmaintained dirt road with occasional rocks, puddles, loose stones, washouts, gravel though soon to repair the bad spots. There are nice smooth areas also, now being coated with a soft layer of pine needles as the trees are shedding. Expect everything. The osprey will likely be upset at you as you travel under its nest area. Look for bald eagles on the river. Stop to enjoy the river and mountain views. Saw a bear in the woods near the trail, make some noise so you both aren't surprised.. Depending on your tires and your confidence and skill, you can either bike the entire length for a challenge, or just hop off and walk short sections to avoid the circumstances. There is another tiny little planked bridge that is starting to fall apart. Water was flowing ON TOP of it. It is, obviously, at the bottom of a hill, so you will see it. WALK your bike over this, there are big holes developing that your tires will fit snugly into, watch for them.
The bigger washed out bridge (from the Oct 31, 2017 storm) is still missing, but an obvious little pathway leads to the brook where you can walk across with your bike. I crossed about 12 hours after a rainstorm of just less than an inch. The brook was about 6 inches deep over the rocks and I managed to get across with only one foot getting a bit wet. Use caution on the rocks if you are wearing bike shoes with the metal clips...
Review of the Three Construction Projects for 2020 (that I have heard of..):
The Ammonoosuc Rail Trail will be extended eastward from Littleton towards Whitefield about 6 miles! Track and ties will be removed soon, This will shorten the distance that one must bike on Route 116, which will be an advantage! The rail trail extension will go along the river for a pleasant scenic alternative to the road, and avoids a few hillclimbs. In the meantime, Route 116 is the only option. Be cautious, wear bright clothing, a blink trail light is helpful for visibility.
The re-grading and re-ditching along the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail from Woodsville to Lisbon appears to be done as of June 23rd.
Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge The Rail Trail work is almost done. All that is left is application of a hardpacked stone dust surface, which should happen in August. No trail closures are anticipated at this point, as pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians will be able to get around this project.
The Israel River Bridge located on the Presidential Rail Trail in Randolph, will be restored this summer, likely in August, due to the concerns about the original hand carved granite footings. The river has had plenty of rushing water and flooding events to assist its way into and around the granite blocks. The bridge will be raised off the pilings and the blocks will be reset. The bridge decking is showing sign of wear, so use caution. The trail will be closed in this area during the work, and a detour will be established and marked during construction.
For a good place to cool off, head down below the bridge to sit on the sand in the shade. Cool off by splashing in the shallow water.
Trail Signs
Some small trail signs posted in some areas (rail trails and dirt and back roads first) over the winter months. It takes awhile to interact with each town and the NH Bureau of Trails (keepers of the rail trails) to get the proper permission to post the signs. They will appear slowly, town by town. For now, use the downloadable cue sheets, the paper map and the RIdeWIthGPS maps. There are a few signs posted on Hogan Road in Gorham and in Shelburne, hopefully they are still there (a few have disappeared).
Reminders:
Your GPS WILL run out of power at some point along the way. Have a back up. Print out and carry a cue sheet. (see maps section). Request a FREE, 7-panel, accordion fold, waterproof, detailed map by emailing a request to crossnewhampshire@gmail.com
Between Woodsville and Whitefield there are typically plenty of possibilities to obtain food and water, however the coronavirus has closed some of them, so check before you go. Whitefield has a small grocery store, a Subway, Triangle Dairy Bar, Dunkin Donuts, a pizza place and a convenience store/gas station. After Whitefield, there is only a small camp store at the Israel River Campground that you can use as a place to get water, drinks and snacks, even ice cream bars. That's it until Gorham, where're you can go a short bit up Jimtown Road to the Mose Brook State park Campground her you can get water and some snacks.You can get off of the trail to access the Main Street of Gorham for supplies via the bike route (it is marked on the map, access is across the street from the big parking lots at an orange gate.
Send me any trail condition updates, wildlife viewing and good food/lodging experiences! Photos, too!!
crossnewhampshire@gmail.coms,
Here is the newly graded surface on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail, from Woodsville about 3 miles heading east to the first bridge over the Ammonoosuc River. The trail in this area is now flattened, washboard is gone, potholes are gone.. BUT it is lumpy from the resurrected gravel now, until packed down by the ATVs and some rain. Be patient, it is a bit slow and tedious, but it will improve!
This is the tallest beaver dam I have ever seen. The water is lapping at the trails edge. May 5, 2020, Presidential Rail Trail, Jefferson.
June 1st, What a difference a Beaver Deceiver can make! The height of the black outlet pipe is now controlling the water level. The new lowered pond level will not threaten the trail anymore but will still be good for the beavers and the surrounding wetlands. Win Win Win.
May 2, 2020 The Ammonoosuc Rail Trail has its issues with uneven surfaces and gravel at the gates. Caution!
Taking a lunch and ice cream break at the Israel River Campground.
May 2, 2020. The Ammonooosuc Rail Trail has its various issues or "Adventures", but it is a beautiful ride along the river, well worth the various surface conditions!
At the edge of the washout is a stack of timbers ready for the bridge replacement. This photos was taken on May 29, 2019. Looks the same as of June, 2020.
Here is Hogan Road, the eastern section, no problem with conditions here! This area is elevated from the riverside, so no damage from the flooding.
New railings on a bridge located near Gorham on the Presidential Rail Trail.
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