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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Moosilauke, NH
Trails
Trails: Tunnel Brook Trail, Benton Trail, Carriage Road, Glencliff Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, December 2, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Trail head at Glencliff was overflowing. High Street is perfectly passable; there's additional parking across the road 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The bigger crossings on Tunnel Brook are tricky w/ ice on the stepping stones.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Tunnel Brook has suffered significant damage in the October storms; a large section along the beaver ponds is largely impassable due to extensive blow down. What Mother Nature didn't topple, the beavers took a stab at. The nice blue ribbon re-route that was put in place recently is impossible to follow/find for a couple of miles.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Puppies had no problems w/ the footing, even the 3-4" of fresh powder at the top of Benton. Only challenge is the risk of collars/coats getting snagged on blowdown. There's still plenty of running water, so four-legged hydration is not an issue.  
Bugs
Bugs: Nope. Don't miss them, either... 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: One of the signs on the marker at the peak has come off the signpost -- for now, it's sitting on the ground below, but when the snow starts to accumulate it'll be gone for the season.  
 
Comments
Comments: Tunnel Brook (from High Street/Glencliff), Benton to Beaver Brook, ridge to top of Glencliff, Glencliff down.

It's still hunting season in NH -- dress for it. Bunch of guys w/ rifles at the Glencliff end of Tunnel Brook and near the intersection of Tunnel Brook and the Benton Trail. See note re. Tunnel Brook damage above. Benton Trail is in great shape, only a few toppled trees to negotiate. Snow starts accumulating at 3,000 feet and gets significant higher up. We broke trail today on 3-4" inches of powder using microspikes -- but it's quickly getting to the point where snow shoes would be preferable. Surprisingly, also found untracked snow on the .4 miles of Beaver Brook pitch to the peak; very little drifting snow on the peak itself, and only a few icy patches. Ridge to South Peak is tracked out nicely, as is the entire Glencliff trail and the spur out to South Peak. Snow gives out about 2/3ds of the way down Glencliff, but you'll need traction to safely negotiate the top part.  
Name
Name: Lars Blackmore 
E-Mail
E-Mail: LARS@AMERIDANE.ORG 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-12-02 
Link
Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1299224713 
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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