| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Mountain (Benton), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Chippewa Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, July 7, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No other cars in the lot, can fit 4-6 cars on Lime Kiln Road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Hoppable on boardwalk, steppingstones or water bars. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All good if my memory serves me properly. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Did not see any. |
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 | Bugs: |
More biting bugs down low, dissipated as elevation was gained - breeze also increased with elevation, which may have helped some. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Black framed sunglasses found about mid-way up the Chippewa Trail, I carried back and left them on the trail sign at the trailhead if anyone is missing them! |
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 | Comments: |
Very hot and humid day, good morning for a shorter ascent. Gnats and blackflies loved the ears and eyes for the initial mile or so, seemed to dissipate around the spruce/red pine stands, once the winds could get through the canopy. Water and mud wasn't much worse than other times, all found in the standard sections. Dry trail down low until turning onto the second logging road and passing the SPNHF signage - then the trail was consistently wet, nothing deep, just wet, mossy rocks.
About half of the bare ledges were still wet, any in the sun had dried by 9am. Wet slabs were like walking on ice, very slick. Parts of the trail are loose - gravelly, sandy with pine needles and other parts were exposed roots and dry soil, with a little care the descent wasn't treacherous, just slow enough to not go for a ride downslope.
Summit was dry, good views before the tstorms rolled in. Still a lingering haze in the air, which has been progressively improving and clearing over the past two days - similar/perhaps slightly improved from the atmospheric haze on Osceola two days ago.
As noted in the lost and found section - found a pair of black sunglasses which I brought down and left at the trailhead sign in case the owner is looking for them.
For a quick write-up and some color photography, feel free to meander over to the link below.. enjoy! |
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 | Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
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 | E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-07-08 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.atalkinthewoods.com/trail-reports/chippewa-trail |
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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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