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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Blue, NH
Trails
Trails: Tunnel Brook Road, Benton Trail, Beaver Brook Trail, herd path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 10, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Tunnel Brook Rd is blocked off with some large stones, so cars park right along there on the road side. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: There is one water crossing in the very beginning of the Benton trail. It is easily cross-able hopping on rocks. I am not sure it would be so after heavy rain or snow melt. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Looks like someone did a great job clearing blow overs. On the Tunnel Brook road walk there are two sections where there are large culvert pipes across it. They are not the easiest things to get around. There are little stone/cement walls to walk on, but it is dangerous enough without all the rocks being secure. USFS may want to do something here. Maybe some wooden beam bridges to walk right over the ditches where the culvert pipes are. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Great trail for dogs 
Bugs
Bugs: Mosquitoes became a little annoying on the hike down the Benton trail  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Tunnel Brook road leads to the Benton trail head however the last section has been permanently closed due to what I believe is repeated storm damage. This adds a 1 1/2 mile road walk each way. Although I don't know if I would call it a road walk. Its more like a path that meanders back and forth and in and out of the woods a couple times. The Forest Service has placed trees in various places to herd hikers around spots where land is still prone to wash out more and they put some serious piles of timber in spots to make it obvious which way to NOT go. I have to give them a lot of credit! Once you go about 1/2 mile it is pretty much a hard grown in old dirt roadbed that is barely noticeable anymore. There are also a couple of sections where there are giant culvert pipes stretching across, with a narrow stone and concrete section on each to carefully walk across. Some of the rocks are loose so BE CAREFUL!! I guess there are safer ways to negotiate these two sections. Aside from that it is just a pleasant 1 1/2 mile addition to the hike, that I think makes the Benton trail hike better! Once on the BBT it is 3/4 of a mile to the herd path to Mount Blue, then easy to follow yet very winding approximate .15 to the summit.  
Name
Name: Anthony I 
E-Mail
E-Mail: nhbuddy@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-06-11 
Link
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hikenh4k/permalink/10156521966163724/ 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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