| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Moosilauke, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Benton Trail, Carriage Road, Glencliff Trail, Tunnel Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, July 29, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked on Tunnel Brook Road where FR700 is permanently gated. It’s 1.5 miles with 500’ of gain to get from there to the actual Benton trailhead. There is room for at least 4 cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The Benton Trail water crossing has an extraordinarily well placed fallen tree about 20’ downstream, that makes that crossing a non issue. Tunnel Brook has a lot of crossings; some of them have piles of planks which seem to be intended to be used for crossing. I used one at one crossing, and left it on the other side. What a terrific idea!! I am terrible at water crossings but water levels were low enough that I kept my shoes dry today (yay!) |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are two blowdowns on GlenCliff that are too high to be stepovers but too low to be duckunders. So people are going around them and that is leading to some trail erosion. If you want exact GPS coordinates for these, find me on FB or IG, or email me at the name above at yahoo!
I don’t know that the GlenCliff blowdowns are necessarily new (I hiked this a month ago) but the erosion is definitely new, because I would have noticed it.
Benton was perfect. Tunnel Brook has some very exuberant weeds crowding the trail in the area of the ponds!! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Did not see any. |
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 | Bugs: |
Minimal. I brought bug spray but didn’t feel like I needed it. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
N/A |
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 | Comments: |
I hiked clockwise - Benton Trail to the Moosilauke summit, then Carriage Road, down Glencliff, road walk to the Tunnel Brook trailhead and then Tunnel Brook back to my car. I absolutely loved everything about this hike. Solid type 1 fun!!
The road walk to get to the Benton trailhead is interesting, for a road walk. Benton Trail has easy grades and wonderful footing. You get a really neat view out across Little Tunnel Ravine (according to the WMG!!) once you are above treeline, the view of the Kinsmans in front of Franconia Ridge in front of the Presis - wowza!!
I love heading down Carriage Road and then down Glencliff. Glencliff is the only trail where I saw other people. Three singles with very heavily loaded packs (maybe AT NOBO?), and then two day hikers. And then I saw a group of at least a dozen 8-10 yo boys with two adults - they were clearly backpacking (most of the boys were smaller than their packs!!). They were super polite and seemed to be having a great time.
The road walk over to Tunnel Brook trailhead was easy.
And then Tunnel Brook Trail. What a gem! Lots of water crossings (see above). There is a dam with benches and some life preservers. But that wasn’t nearly as funny as the plastic pelican. I kid you not!!
The pond section of this trail has some relocations that help you keep your feet dry.
And then there is a section of weird cairns. I have no words but I do have photos. Ha ha!
Overall terrific loop; I would highly recommend it. (I got the idea to hike this loop from The 4000 Footers of the WM book, where the route is described ccw, starting from Glencliff!) |
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 | Name: |
Bikecamphikegirl |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-07-29 |
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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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