| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Trestle Brook Mountain (Deer Mountain - West Peak), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bushwhacks, roads |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, July 8, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
From Pittsburgh: Back Lake Rd (fine for all vehicles) —> Moose Pond Rd (a bit rougher; mid-clearance may not be necessary but I felt better in it) —> Indian Stream Rd (in good shape; should be okay for low clearance with caution) —> East Branch Rd (mid-clearance probably needed) —> Spur Rd (mid clearance probably needed). I more or less parked at the end of the road where Gaia shows another logging road diverging 0.3mi N/NE (this was blocked by large blowdowns a short ways in). Though it shows this spur rd continuing to a HOL then heading south, it does not. No sign of a road; you’ll just naturally continue along the logging road and get turned around by the blowdowns. There’s a large puddle on the spur rd of East Branch Rd somewhere that I was wary of going over though my car made it over fine. Just done stop in it as you may not have enough traction to get started again. I parked in a grassy area. |
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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: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure but very overgrown; I’d be wary of ticks and loosing them in the brush. Also, there appear to be MANY moose in this area!! |
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 | Bugs: |
They were out but not too bad. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Day 250, Peak 242. 1st of the day. From just shy of the 0.3mi logging rd diverging N/NE, I went into the woods near the drainage that drains a minor col north of the peak. I travelled S/SE soon pulling away from the drainage but found myself in marshy, wet areas with very muddy footing for a ways. Flat marsh areas soon transitioned to overgrown brushy areas as I began to gain elevation still often with wet footing though not as often getting my feet wet as I just stepped on the brush. Here, I looked up and saw a moose less than 50yds ahead of me staring at me!
The going got better when I hit the summit ridge north of the peak. I went directly over the subpeak. A good deal of fern and hobblebush but nothing terribly annoying and certainly better than my going earlier. Saw lots of moose beds and it wasn’t long before I spooked my 2nd and 3rd moose of the day: a mother and her calf. The register was easily found on a little mound with a moose skull next to it. I signed in and headed off the summit.
Rather than return north, I took a NW bearing and aimed for the end of the 0.6mi logging road shown on Gaia. It is about 1/3mi west of where I parked my car near the end of the road. I had good going for awhile but not surprisingly I eventually ran into more brushy stuff and then the wet footing that normally comes with it. Indeed, Gaia showed that I just skirted around the north side of what’s probably a clear cut shown on Gaia between 2300 and 2400ft. The walk out the logging road was also very overgrown and wet at times but followable. Many other roads diverged though I seemed to stay on the correct one. Short walk back to my car. This is a slightly longer and maybe slightly more pleasant way to approach the peak than my ascent line. Pick your poison I guess though. Nothing terrible about it; just one of those annoying, brushy little peaks of Pittsburgh.
About 2.75mi with around 600ft of elevation gain. It took me 2hrs to complete. 115 more days and 123 more peaks to go… |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-07-09 |
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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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