| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Surprise, Mt. Moriah, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Carter-Moriah Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 5, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking in the lot just down from the trailhead. Plenty of room, but filled up fast. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There was a scattering of downed trees and branches, especially at the bottom of the trail. A few large trees obstructing the path. Small icy patches just before the rock ledges, then slushy snow with an unstable monorail the rest of the way up. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A few dogs along the trail. Friendly and seemed to be enjoying themselves. |
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 | Bugs: |
No bugs yet. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We started our hike around 9:00 after being rerouted off of Rte. 16 because of a massive blowdown blocking the road.Had planned to do the Carters but chose Moriah as the best, closest alternative option. It was a beautiful day and we didn't want to waste it. The first section of the trail was dry but had a lot of blowdown, big and small. We took the time to trim out some of the branches that were in the way and toss the others to the side making it easier for those behind us to navigate and rewarding us with a smoother descent. No snow to be found anywhere until we approached the rock ledge area. Shortly before ascending them we started to encounter small strips of ice which was easy to navigate around without traction. The open rock faces were mostly wet but not too slippery and manageable if you took it slow and placed your foot carefully. Grabbing a tree now and then helped too. Soon enough those conditions changed and we donned our microspikes to help us stay upright. It was patchy at first, causing us to dull our spikes a bit as we walked over open rock but we felt that was a better option then to keep putting on and taking them off every 20 feet or so. Eventually, the snow coverage evened out and stayed constant on the trail until we got to the top. We progressed at a slower pace because the monorail was difficult to find and therefore stay on, unfortunately causing some serious postholing. The slushy snow made it hard to walk with a steady step and anyone looking on would have suggested we had had one too many drinks along the way to the summit! A bit frustrating at times, but that's what comes with spring hiking! The view from the top made it all worth it, though. It wasn't as windy as we thought it might be. The sun shone on us on and off throughout the day which was probably a good thing for although it was relatively warm (40-60 degrees) it kept the snow from getting even more slushy. Coming down was almost as challenging as going up but once we cleared the cliffs it was pretty smooth sailing back to the parking lot. I don't think it will be long before the rest of the snow is gone. Let's hope that's the case anyway. |
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 | Name: |
Gi Jo and Snowy |
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 | E-Mail: |
coachjo.gardner@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-05-07 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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