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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Eastman Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Slippery Brook Trail, Eastman Mountain Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The road is gated right after the Mountain Pond parking lot. We parked there and walked 10-15 minutes to the trail head. Normal people (i.e. regular sized adults with longer legs) will probably get there sooner. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Many very small ones, one is bridged. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Forest Road 17, the first section, is wide and grassy and easy to follow. THANK YOU to whoever put the arrows in two strategic places; you probably prevented a lot of unintended explorations of various snowmobile trails, etc. The second section, which is a trail and not a road, may be difficult for an inexperienced hiker to follow in some places. No blazes on this trail. There is a big blowdown right before the trail intersects the Eastman Mtn trail. Someone had kindly started work on one blowdown there, only to have another one fall right over it. There is one short section where a few steps had been created using logs. These logs have disintegrated and will need to be replaced.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Saw none, would probably be o.k. 
Bugs
Bugs: EVERYTHING! We used spray and bug hats. Later on, as the wind picked up and the rain moved in, their presence decreased dramatically. Oh yeah, one wood tick. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Slippery Brook Trail (from Slippery Brook Road, NOT rt 113), Eastman Mountain Trail

If you are easily bored by relatively flat forest service roads, gradual ascents through the woods, then this is not the trail for you. If you love flowers, get out there NOW. Violets in all three colors, Trillium in red, painted, and an interesting pinkish painted version. Bluets, bunchberries, hobble bush. This is a nice way to get to Eastman and the Baldies, if you have the time. Watch your step on the woodsy section, evidence of moose like every 10 feet (but we saw none, the only critters were a snake and two toads). Although this is not in a wilderness area, it feels like one. Prema said it had more of a wilderness feel than many of the wilderness trails we have been on. The last section before you come to the Eastman Mtn trail is a gorgeous open woods, many birches. You get glimpses of the Baldies and other mtns from time to time. Slippery Brook is NOT blazed, but if you have a good eye for the woods you should be o.k.
The Eastman Mtn trail was nice - a gradual descent and then eventually a steep ascent to the Mtn itself. Views are somewhat restricted due to encroachment of evergreens, but it's beautiful up there. Would have stayed longer, but the rain was starting and we were getting chilled.

I had my eye on this for quite some time. This was nice and easy on the knees. Glad we went.

One last word, no blazing on this part of the Slippery Brook Trail. Don't remember about the section going down to Rt 113, it's been about three years since we were on that. Thank you CTA for your work!  
Name
Name: Beckie and Prema 
E-Mail
E-Mail: beckiejani@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-05-22 
Link
Link: https:// 
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