| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Moat Mountain, Middle Moat Mountain, North Moat Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Moat Mountain Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 10, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Not as busy as I thought! Perhaps due to a somewhat foreboding forecast! Only about a dozen cars or so at the southern Trailhead around 8:45am. Room for probably a few dozen. When we got to the north trailhead the parking lot seemed full (lots of tourists for Diana’s Bath) but I don’t recall any cars along the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The only water crossing that isn’t bridged along this trail that’s of any significance is of Lucy Brook near the West Side Road side. It can be tricky in high water but it was an easy rock hop yesterday. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One stepover blowdown near the Passaconaway Road side. I believe it’s before the trail really starts to climb. I bumped my head on another blowdown somewhere along the ridge. I believe it was between the jct with Red Ridge and Norh Moat. Shorter people shouldn’t have to worry. As I recall, the trail was well blazed I yellow on the ascent to South Moat and the descent to North Moat. On the ridge, there was blaze on the ledges/rocks but I don’t recall any blaze in the trees along the ridge. I still found it easy to follow though. Only difficult places to follow the trail are along the ledges (occasionally along the ridge but mostly on the ascent of South Moat). Just keep an eye out for cairns and blazes. Overall, this well travelled trail is in great shape :) Thank you to the maintainers! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a couple on the trail. The trail is very dry so you’d likely have to carry a lot of extra water for them. You’d also probably have to help them up the scrambles on Norrh Moat and possibly Sourh Moat. Most dogs probably shouldn’t do the traverse unless they’re experienced hiking dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
I hardly noticed ‘em! Put bug spray on near the beginning though but never reapplied. I |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Saw a nice and wet sock below Diana’s Baths. |
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 | Comments: |
What a fantastic day! :D I have been waiting to do this one for awhile now and yesterday was the day! One of only a few classic White Mountain hikes that I still haven’t done as a redliner. The weather was a bit sketchy and we saw some dark clouds but it only sprinkled on us twice and very, very briefly. Then, close to the bottom, it started to rain a bit harder and longer than it did before, but once we started back along the road it stopped (we had my parents pick who had done an out-and-back to Middle Moat pick us up but we beat them down😂 and just started walking towards our dinner at Flatbreads lol).
While this hike can be done as an out-and-back, I highly recommend a traverse. Although people do the traverse in both directions I was happy with our choice. The descent on Norrh seemed like it was a bit gentler on the feet than the ascent on south (some poor footing) and this way we ascended the “scrambliest†parts of North Moat rather than descended if doing an out-and-back I recommend doing South and Middle as between the two is the most open (and gentlest!) section of ridgeline. The loop over Norrh on Red Ridge and Moat Mtn Trail is also great although longer than the traverse.
We saw bear scat throughout much of the ridge although it faded as we got closer to north. Not surprising as there were still TONS of blueberries up there starting around the ledges before the summit of South Moat. Some aren’t looking too great but there’s still many good ones :) I’m not usually one to stop and pick them but yesterday was just ok great not too! Also, the only mud seen on the trail was near the bottom on the north side along Dians’a bath and even that was nothing much. No mud to South Moat it along the ridgeline; spectacular! The views are also superb. South and North Moat have the best :) |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-08-11 |
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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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