Ossipee Mountains Land Conservation Easement

[peakbagger]

https://www.conwaydailysun.com/comm...cle_cb321a9c-62d0-11e9-822f-ff13c918c34d.html

https://lrct.org/conserved-lands/recent-land-projects/

I could not find a link to a good map of the protected land. Note the reference to Larcom Mountain trails as now being accessible. It will be interesting to see exactly what the easement will actually say about recreational access to the area.

Long ago I believe Larcom Mtn access and showing the trail was one of the points of contention with respect to Trail Bandit's map (which is still available to download http://trailbandit.org/Downloads.html). Its been awhile but I believe the issue was the summits were conserved land but were completely surrounded by private land with no legal public access and therefore the private landholder did not want the trail shown.

 

[nartreb]

https://www.conwaydailysun.com/comm...cle_cb321a9c-62d0-11e9-822f-ff13c918c34d.html

https://lrct.org/conserved-lands/recent-land-projects/

I could not find a link to a good map of the protected land. Note the reference to Larcom Mountain trails as now being accessible. It will be interesting to see exactly what the easement will actually say about recreational access to the area.

Here is the map from LRCT, scaled up:



The new easement indeed connects the (LRCT-owned) summits of Larcom and Little Larcom to the Ossipee Mountains preserve. I would be pretty surprised if the easement did not allow for hiker access.
( edit to add: ) However, it looks to me like the easement does not include the downhill end of the trail shown on Trail Bandit's map ("Larcom Mtn. Trail"). The easement doesn't include any part of Mountain Road. From Mountain Road there is a dirt road into the easement that might be a good trailhead for a bushwhack, if the landowner allows use of the downhill end of the dirt road.

2nd edit: the Carroll County Registry of Deeds will publish the text of the easement on their website (via a downloadable Java app). Their index is rather hard to use, but I don't think the easement has been recorded yet. I'm not motivated to check in person or even confirm over the phone whether they have the easement yet.

 

[peakbagger]

Given the prior controversy, I sure would like to see it spelled out in unambiguous language in a recorded legal document. Then again even if its written in an easement, if the easement holder ignores their responsibilities like DRED was most likely doing previously it does not mean much except when other parties figure it out.

Thanks for the blown up document

 

[Ken MacGray]

The trail to the Larcoms has not yet been reopened to the public, and signs are still in place prohibiting public access. LRCT has plans to reclear the trail and to reopen the parking area. There is no set schedule, but I was told they are shooting for sometime this year. This information comes straight from LRCT as part of my discussions with them for my work on the Southern NH Guide.

Due to the past issues surrounding this trail, please do not hike it until it has been reopened by LRCT.