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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Blue, Mt. Moosilauke, NH
Trails
Trails: Gorge Brook Trail, Benton Trail, Beaver Brook Trail, herd path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 14, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Got the last of the two angle- in parking spots. When hiking the gravel road there is no signage at the fork. Unless you want to tour the lodge area should take the service road left fork.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Major crossings handled by 3 bridges. Smaller active feeder streams easy to cross 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Overall the Gorge Brook trail in good shape. Second bridge is a little shaky. One blowdown has an off-trail go-around.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Solo hike began with 3 bridged crossings. The trail follows the Gorge Brook for some ways then turns away and eventually begins a series of nicely graded switchbacks to tree-line. At about 3500 feet a combination of snow pellets and black ice made the going more challenging to stay on bare ground and rock. Finally donned spikes around 4000 feet and layered up with a shell as the wind picked up and temperatures dropped. On the summit the wind was a steady 20-25 mph. Stronger on the return trip. Tagged the summit then headed north on Benton/Beaver Brook trail across the exposed summit ridge and into a biting NW wind. Finally dropped below tree-line and followed the Beaver Brook trail. Turned left off the trail at a the waypoint I previously set based on trip reports. After a short ways in the woods I hit the herd path. Followed it to the summit which had no sign-in jar despite hunting around for it. Followed the herd path all the way back to the main trail and discovered it was further south from where I had turned off. Recorded herd path entrance at coordinates as: 44.03037,-71.82319 Headed back the same way I came. Started at 8:20a, on Moosilauke summit at.11:08p, Mt. Blue at 12:12p and finished at 3:32p. Stats: 11.5 miles rt, vertical rise 3543 ft, descent 3604 ft. Duration of hike 7:14 hrs.

 
Name
Name: Dexhiker 
E-Mail
E-Mail: dexpcdoc@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-11-15 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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