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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Black Mountain (Benton) (attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Chippewa Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 21, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Lot fits about 4 cars and then another 5 or so cars can fit on the road right before the lot, although I'm not sure how legal it is to park on this road.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Two or three small water crossings at the beginning that can be rock hopped and one with a single plank. Water was only a foot or so deep. Beware that these will turn into snow bridges soon.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trail is in good shape. I went up with the other USFS maintainer for this trail to do a late fall cleanup on the water bars. We ended up coming across 7 or 8 blowdowns and cleared most of them. Soon after the Kingsbury Chippewa sign is a tree leaning over the trail with about 6-7' clearance. About a mile in is a very large tree going across the trail about 3' off the ground. We cut back all the limbs so it can be crawled under but there is also a herd path that people have been using to go around it. About 100 yards after that is one more tree leaning over the trail with about 6-7' clearance. We'll come back for these in the spring. Added one new blaze in an area that is easy to go off trail when hiking down where it takes a sharp right hand turn. Also moved some dead trees to block off what looks like it could be the trail in that area to hopefully prevent people from taking it. At the top of the steep section is a damaged bog bridge with avoidable mud around it.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Blaze orange recommended for dogs. We came across hunters on the trail and heard gunshots throughout the day.  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Did not summit due to the time it took to clear all the blowdowns. We made it up to the outlook past the steep section right before the damaged bog bridge. Hunters are out so blaze orange is recommended.  
Name
Name: Justin 
E-Mail
E-Mail: jusgallo@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-11-23 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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