I have newer hiked it but have run into many who have in the winter. In the winter if the conditions are right, its the most direct route to the summit and shortest of the three options that start at the base station. Looking at the profiles of the Cog, Ammo and Jewell, the Cog is the steadiest profile which would be expected for a railroad track. The rough road built for the powerline construction that folks usually walk on was "improved" two years ago by the cog up to treeline which caused them some issues with the county although it was ultimately resolved. Over the years I have never heard of any aggressive attempts to prevent hikers from using their strip of privately owned land for climbing to top beyond some signage at the bottom. They claim to operate under special federal railroad regulations which gives them special rights to their right of way so perhaps they do not need to post no trespassing signage like other properties in NH. The claim of special rights was a source of conflict with respect to the summit operations but I have never heard of any attempt to exclude hikers from the right of way during times when the cog is not in operation. The electrical utility clearing is definitely on Cog land and is used by many as more direct route to the summit after it crosses the west side trail. This was a non issue prior to plowing the base station road as the hiker traffic was far lower.
), USFS, nor the Cog or any others that helped in a rescue every time one happens, if at all. That doesn't mean I'm not grateful to these organizations for being there and going the extra mile to help, and I am deeply grateful. 
