| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Tunnel Brook Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, August 5, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking available for 6 to 8 vehicles at junction of Tunnel Brook Road and Tunnel Stream Road |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No problems with any of the water crossings. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The 2+ mile corridor (i.e. the permanently closed segment of Tunnel Brook Rd) leading up to the northern terminus of Tunnel Brook Trail was in good shape. And, the approximate 1.5 miles of Tunnel Brook Trail that I hiked was also in great shape. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
Very few bugs |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Many folks do a loop hike over Mt. Moosilauke using a combination of the Tunnel Brook Trail, Glencliff Trail and Benton Trail. But on this particular day, my objective wasn't to do that loop hike. Instead, my simple goal was to hike the Tunnel Brook Trail southward from its northern terminus to the first beaver pond, and then leave the trail for a short bushwhack up the eastern slope of Mt. Clough to a bare rock area that I call the "Cliffs of Clough". :-)
There is sort of an interesting footnote to this hike. As is well-known, Tunnel Brook Road (located on the WEST side of the brook) was permanently closed to vehicular traffic in 2011 due to the extensive damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene. As a result, hikers must now park at the junction of Tunnel Stream Road and Tunnel Brook Road and walk over 2 miles along the once-drivable road to the northern terminus of the Tunnel Brook Trail.
So, considering the above, imagine my surprise when I encountered a guy in a pickup truck when I arrived at the Tunnel Brook Trailhead! As it turns out, the guy is a logging company employee, and he informed me that two previously-unconnected segments of logging roads that run parallel to Tunnel Brook Road (on the EAST side of the brook) are now connected. Currently, this road has a locked gate at both ends. But I wonder if someday, once logging operations are complete, this road MIGHT be made available to the public?? It would surely be nice to once again be able to drive to the Tunnel Brook Trailhead. :-)
|
|
 | Name: |
1HappyHiker |
|
 | E-Mail: |
randonneur8 at yahoo dot com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-08-11 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://1happyhiker.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-trek-to-cliffs-on-eastern-slope-of-mt.html |
|
|
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. |
|
