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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Moosilauke, NH
Trails
Trails: Benton Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Road is plowed to the access of the Forest Road 171, there is active logging (we could hear it). At this point there is also a sign that reads that Tunnel Brook Road is closed December 1st. There looks like it is possible to park just past the FR near this sign. We drove on 4 inches of slushy snow to the new Tunnel Brook Trailhead/Benton Trail.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Tunnel Brook was rock hop-able, water was just low enough at the trail crossing that it was pretty easy. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: All the trees blow downs I reported from my Sept 1st trip are still across the trail. big mess right before trail's crossing of Tunnel Brook, between brook and just before the crossing of the new forest road are a big birch and pine across the trail. Now higher up above the ravine view ledge are some blow downs that are duck under-able. Above spring there is a big pine across the trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: If they like slush and snow 
Bugs
Bugs: none --isn't it fun to type none all winter long 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: This day was not like we thought it might be, we traveled through at least four different climate zones. Started at 9 am with clear blue sunny sky above and temperatures above freezing. We followed a hunter's footprints in the snow down the old Tunnel Brook Road, I guess I have to learn to call this the Tunnel Brook Trail. After about a half a mile the hunter went off into the woods to chase the prints of a dear. A couple times for short distances on the 1.5 mile road/trail walk we thought maybe we should have snowshoes but it was getting warm quick. After we crossed the brook there was 3 to 5 inches of wet snow and the trees were free of snow. In wet areas it was bare ground just before reaching the view ledge. Boy it was windy on the ledge and we couldn't even hear the cascading waters of Tunnel Brook in the ravine. We took a nice break and enjoyed the view from this fine perch. We continued up the trail and poof at 3200' the trees were snow loaded and dripping rain and slush bombs on the trail. The wind was still wicked but not cold and we decided to press on would change clothes as soon as we got near treeline. Just above 4,000 it must have just been 32 degrees because the melting stopped but the whipping wind wasn't moving the snow plastered trees. We bare booted all the way. At the trail junction of Beaver Brook we put on dry shirts and jackets and marched to the summit across a wind packed open summit. Tracks from Beaver Brook looked like one person went out and back, we must have just missed them. The summit was at least a constant 30mph wind with some higher gusts and thankfully it wasn't crazy cold. We saw tracks from Gorge Brook, that was it. We had the summit to ourselves. Funny how once we were back in the woods there was almost no wind. The sky was cloudy and it became cooler so that there was no more rain or slush bombs falling on us. The winds nearly disappeared by the time we reached the Tunnel Ravine view ledge and this time we could hear the brook below. The sun stayed behind the clouds and never reappeared. Snowshoes wouldn't have been much help, we rarely stepped in snow more than 4 inches but there were a few places where there were drifts but they didn't last more than a few steps. We didn't even bother to put on our mirco-spikes since the snow was so sticky and soft. Obviously this side of the Whites got more rain than snow the previous storm but this will change soon enough.  
Name
Name: Nordic_Gal, Danielle  
E-Mail
E-Mail: amybike@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-11-27 
Link
Link: https:// 
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