| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Blue Mountain (Bunnell), NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Brown Road, woods roads, bushwhack |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the first opportunity along Brown Road as the surface was soggy and muddy with lots of jagged rocks emerging. Looked like some damage from the rainstorm last week, otherwise, it appears the road had been plowed. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings on the roads are bridged, possibly not bridged once due south of Bunnell, as beaver activity has taken over. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Roads were all good, minor limbs down, some moved some not. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Don't bring them up Bunnell - too much moose activity all up this mountain - including at the high point. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Great day roaming to another trailless peak. Began from Browns Road which was a bit soggy, watched a big pick up take the road super cautiously but did make it eventually. As the road splits from last residential driveway, I continued straight on the old gravel roadway. The split which brings hikers to West Castle is just a weathered sign (per Liam's report, speculations of access closure, the sign said nothing but likely was an arrow or "Keep Right" for the snowmobile corridor.
Atop leaves with no snow, I trekked for several miles before finally needing snowshoes. Put on snowshoes and gaiters for an adventure down a brushy old logging road which appeared to veer toward the W Bunnell-Bunnell col. This path faded quickly into trailless forest but was so nicely open as to not really need anything to follow but a compass bearing. Came up a little short at hitting the col, had to sidehill around the West Peak a slight distance through more nice spruce/moss forest. Eventually located a VERY old, moss-covered path which did lead into the open col. Views would be nice here if not stuck in a cloud.
Followed same-day moose tracks (1 mature, 1 young.. yikes!) for the final ascent up the summit cone through more lovely boreal forest. A crazy amount of moose activity at the true summit - recent hoof prints directly beneath the summit canister! I signed in quickly while continuously glancing around the summit area - really beautiful and remote up there. Thankfully I did not locate any of the paths which are visible on satellite imagery while atop Bunnell Mtn.
As to avoid the long descent which was my approach, I literally walked off the summit (with fresh Gore Tex layers) due south, into super dense fir which lasted only 2-3 rods. Then the hillside opened up to beautiful spruce-fir, still marvelously open, navigated downslope through this until hearing water nearing the beaver activity. Lots of leaning trees around the "pond"/bog, had to retrace into the woods to skirt around. Met back up with my ascending footsteps for a 3-3.5mi run/jog out in LaSportiva mountaineering boots.
Great day in the bush! For a full write-up and color photography check out the link for lots of reads. |
|
 | Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-27 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.atalkinthewoods.com/trail-reports/bunnell-mountain |
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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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