| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Blue, Mt. Moosilauke, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gorge Brook Trail, Benton Trail, Beaver Brook Trail, herd path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, November 14, 2020 |
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 | 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. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Major crossings handled by 3 bridges. Smaller active feeder streams easy to cross |
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 | 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. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | 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.
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 | Name: |
Dexhiker |
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 | E-Mail: |
dexpcdoc@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-11-15 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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