Black Mountain (Benton)

Trail: Skidder road, bushwhack

Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“A FINE day in the forest was had. Like anything on these lists, getting to the start of the hike is half the fun. An extra 90 minutes was added due to road washouts and finding new ways to get there (see above). Cruiser logging/atv line for about a mile or so. Found an object on West peak (unlisted) but we went over to look. Double back, shot in perpendicular to the summit of Northwest. Entry is blowdown central no matter where you hit it. The north side of this ridge was better woods generally speaking. No real issues going over to Southeast. We stashed a car at the ATV gate due north of the summit, about 0.65 as the crow flies. Took a line to the top of a logging cut and as anticipated we where following the seam for a bit, its totally grown in breast stroke swimming. Able to find a goldilocks line until a younger cut enters perpendicular to the other one. Easily traversable in juvenile moose maple. About 3 miles for the traverse, figure about a mile an hour. Woods are good.”

Trail: Road walk, logging roads, bushwhack

Conditions: Dry Trail

“A FINE day in the forest was had. Not super challenging. We began taking a very obvious log line due south (as seen on aerials). I reviewed my track, it was almost dead south from the car to the summit. Nothing really that thick, easy moving. On the way out we retraced and then headed in a general NW direction towards other logging lines to Larry Brook Road. We generally where able to stay on old skid lines for the majority of this hike. We got sucked into the other side of a log cut and had a little fight to get out but nothing major. On the way out on Larry Brook Road, we found a matched set of antlers just sitting there next to eachother - in pretty good shape! We stashed them and then continued to Black Mountain - Northeast. Nothing really of note here. Pretty run of the mill, you do enough of them, they all look kind of the same. 4.7 miles, about 3:10 on the clock. It was hot, so the pace was a little on the slower side”

Trail: Road walk, bushwhack

Conditions: Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail

“Walked down road and across bridge (OK for foot traffic), up opposite side to a fork in the road. Decided the tackle Black first, so took right and walked to end of the grassy road (counterclockwise loop for both of these peaks). We entered open woods and took approximately direct line to summit. Crossed and paralleled drainage a bit but mostly direct line. Signed in, and debated on making this 2 separate hikes or taking direct line to NW peak. Taking the direct line to the NW peak was a great decision; we followed multiple well worn herd paths to the COL, then paths and BW up to the SE ridge. BWed across the ridge in open woods to the summit, and found canister with not too much issue since we knew it was in tight stuff; only took 1:20. Took slightly north of west bearing down, but curved around in a more SW direction to cut the corner for the road walk out. Met the road for walk south, turning right over bridge and back up hill to car. There were lots of things to step over, and a few under, with some steepness but all was expected. Great day!!!! On to the next summit.”