Moosilauke August 26th, 2014

I already have Moosilauke checked off my 71>71 list, so this hike was a repeat or an update.  The reason for going back was that I had told a friend I would repair his family's Dick Sanders memorial plaque at the summit.  The bronze plaque is mounted in a boulder near the stone foundation and was in need of a new surrounding seal.  Any regular White Mountains hiker reading this has probably sat behind one of these stones to get out of the wind.

Dick Sanders story is an interesting one.  He was president of Dartmouth's Outing Club for much of his time there and for a number of years he managed Dartmouth's Summit House on Moosilauke.  The Mountain obviously had special meaning to him.  His time on the Mountain was of another era, but I'll bet most of the stories remembered by his family were of fun times just as ours are now!

Today, packing 8 or 9 pounds of tools and plumber's putty, I made another delightful trip up Gorge Brook Trail to the summit.  The actual repair didn't take long, but the summit was thick with other hikers so a lot of time was spent visiting and swapping stories.  Many at the summit were NOBO AT hikers and you could feel their excitement at reaching the White Mountains and finally being above treeline!  Some were interested in the repair job and the Sanders story.

Below are a few photos, mostly of Gorge Brook Trail's landmark features and a couple at the summit:

One of the log bridges

The stone bridge

View from the first clearing

A fun section of trail

Toad Rock

Looking back to Ravine Lodge

First view of summit

Summit over Bunchberries --- and Cranberries!

Approaching the summit

before repair

after

And a few interesting sights on the way down ---

No one at home

Pretty --- but please don't try eating this one!

When I'm not tripping over them, tree root patterns can be fun

71>71 Moriah August 6th, 2014

I'm becoming quite experienced at hiking the Moriah-Carter-Wildcat Range ------- in the rain!  Two years ago I did most of the range there in delightful weather.  this year I needed North Carter (it's on my list) and Moriah again.  On both hikes I got wet.  Today I got drenched!
I began at the Stony Brook Trailhead for an up and back trip to summit Moriah.  Early on the weather looked to be clearing.  I liked the first mile of Stony Brook.  It passes through nice maturing evergreens with interesting views of the brook.

The mid section of Stony Brook Trail is a straight shot through the woods --- and about as interesting as Iowa, with trees!  But, keep putting one foot in front of the other and you can walk yourself out of anything!

 

Up high Stony Brook becomes very much a White Mountain trail --- steep, stones, roots, etc.  Once you reach the height of land, and the Carter-Moriah Trail, a lovely mile and a half long ridge walk begins.  Yes there are PUDS (pointless ups & downs) but the fir thickets opening up to long ledge walks keep things interesting.

 

I know there are good views from most of the open ledges along this section ---- but I didn't see them today.  This is where it began to rain ---- no, pour!  In the area where I expected to find the short spur to Moriah's summit the trail began descending steeply.  I sensed something was wrong and turned around.  Sure enough --- I had walked right by the junction sign and had been heading down Kenduskeag Trail!  Lesson learned --- the combination of rain hood induced tunnel vision plus constant concentration on wet weather foot placement does not lend itself well to attentive trail navigation.

Do you see the trail jct. sign?  I didn't!

Heading back I met six or eight individuals and small groups of NOBO (north bound) AT through hikers.  Today's terrain and weather should provide them with a small introduction of what to expect in the Mahoosucs and the Hundred Mile wilderness.




As always, if you look hard enough, you can  find some color even on the darkest days!

By the time I finished there was sunshine in the parking lot!