Mount Moosilauke

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Early start, snow softening on descent, undercast to west with good views east and north, removed spikes above treeline

Trails Used

Gorge Brook up &down

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

We and most others brought and were generally satisfied with microspikes since the surface (after many hikers’ compression) was Ice in lower sections and then packed snow with softening top layer . Upper exposed sections of trail were softening, though, over the day. We tried to descend via Carriage Road and both lost the trail and found ourselves in hip-deep snow, so snowshoes essential for that and other trails. Most people were descending on Gorge Brook

Parking

Hikers should be aware that parking is Outside a gate a mile from the trailhead. Plan on the extra hike!

Water Crossings

bridges in good shape

Wildlife

None

Trails Used

Gorge Brook

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

The cold day made for stable conditions and a great, fast trail. The snow is solid and supportive, even off the trail. Up high there seemed to be 4-5 feet of snow still. The warmer weather and rain over the next few days will completely change the conditions though.

Parking

Road was in good shape.

Water Crossings

All were bridged

Trails Used

-

Notes

Started hike at 3:30 AM to catch sunrise. Summited at sunrise with excellent views. Constantly changing clouds throughout morning. Very cold and windy conditions above treeline.

Trails Used

Roadwalk, Gorge Brook Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Fun morning for a quick pre-breakfast rip up Moose with Stacy, Helga, Tay, and Brooks. Gorge Brook is currently hard and fast, the snowshoes stayed in the car and that was that, no regerts. Brisk up top. Mountain Goddess and her shoulder season drinking problems have clearly resurfaced as she doesn’t know what season it currently is. Go get it early tomorrow before the mushfest returns.

Parking

Ravine Road (driving): Watch the frozen ruts Ravine Road (walking): definitely barebooted the roadwalk vs grinding the spikes, but the driveway down to the lodge has some ice to be careful on 118: sweet baby Jackson there is a frost heave that’s more like a sea wall. Slow down when you see the sign.

Water Crossings

Bridged or step over, careful on the bridges, they have a thin monorail on them.

Wildlife

Hopefully frozen for a few more weeks.

Trails Used

Ravine Lodge Road, Gorge Brook Trail, Carriage Road, Hurricane Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

No views from the Moose today but still felt wintery! Spikes door to door around the entire loop. Gorge Brook is very well packed down, with signs of emerging monorail. The rest of the loop was noticeably less trafficked, with about a half inch to an inch of fresh snow on top of a very hard packed base. Snowshoes could have worked from the summit down Carriage Road to about 3,000’, but below that it becomes too shallow to use snowshoes. This will definitely change with the snow coming in, but know there is a very firm, icy base under everything on Moosilauke right now.

Parking

Road is well plowed but a bit icy. I’d recommend having AWD.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Ravine Lodge Road, Gorge Brook Trail, Snapper Trail, Carriage Road, South Peak Spur, bushwhack, Asquam Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

The Moose Loop. Conditions were perfect, cruising right over the top of the hard pack on micro spikes. Easiest Mt. Blue Shwack ever. Flurries early give way to big sun up Carraige, haze cast up high to increasing clouds down Jim and a steady snow driving out.

Water Crossings

Crossings Bridged