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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Moriah, Shelburne Moriah Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Shelburne Trail, Highwater Trail, Moriah Brook Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Kenduskeag Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 11, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Wild River Road is open and in good condition. Shelburne TH is marked by a hiker sign but trail name is not stated, so you have to know which one it is. Only room for 2 vehicles (without blocking cars), so a pretty small parking lot. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The Wild River is low enough to rock hop in the appropriate locations with only wet soles. All other brook crossings were easy. The best places to rock hop at the Shelburne Trail ford of the Wild River are about 50-100 yards to the east where rocks cluster the whole width of the river. The banks are steep, though, so access is limited in spots. Warning: One obvious point of river access (behind fallen tree roots) is guarded by a wasp nest not obvious from above! 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: The Highwater Trail was ravaged by last October's floods, resulting in it being abruptly cut off at times by the Wild River and hard to follow in spots - had to do short bushwhacks through reasonably open woods. If doing this loop, I would recommend walking the road to the Wild River Campground and using the Moriah Brook crossing rather than using the Highwater Trail. All other trails away from the Wild River were easy to follow and in decent condition. Moriah Brook Trail a little overgrown around the beaver swamps 1/2 mile above Moriah Gorge and in its last climb. Shelburne Trail had a few blowdowns. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Practically no pestering bugs at all - very nice! Lots of dragonflies buzzing the top of Moriah. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: A sock was hanging on a branch along the Kenduskeag Trail on the shoulder of Middle Moriah. 
 
Comments
Comments: A long 15-mile hike to experience what the Wild River Wilderness had to offer. It's vast and endless woods down low - peaceful quiet. I was impressed at the extent of the devastation and flooding that the Wild River has done - a considerable distance from the river there was still sand on the forest floor. Moriah Brook Trail is attractive overall - the gorge, the open woods, the brook, the cliffs above, etc. Saw only one person along that trail. The summit of Moriah was mobbed by lots of folks - about 15-20 people crammed the small summit. Only saw 2 other people on the Kenduskeag Trail and had Shelburne Moriah to myself. The bogs and ledges on Shelburne Moriah are beautiful - much like the Mahoosucs. It's definitely an underrated peak.

The weather was partly sunny in the morning - clouds moved in during the afternoon, but no rain. The Presidentials remained clear - just a few clouds briefly flirted with the top of Washington.  
Name
Name: Dan Saxton 
E-Mail
E-Mail: daniel.saxton7@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-08-12 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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