| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Surprise, Mt. Moriah, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Carter-Moriah Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 14, 2020 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at south end of Bangor Street (plowed). A few folks also parked at overflow parking by powerline. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There are no crossings on this route. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Signage okay. Blazing okay, but as is usual in winter, there are some places in the open hardwoods and along the ledges that are a little obscure -- the judicious addition of a very few blazes could help. There are a few bent-over trees lower down, and one crawl under or walk around blowdown at about 3600 feet. Some spots above 3200 feet could use some brushing. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Iciest stretch was the first couple hundred feet. The slabs/ledges had a little exposed ice, but there was plenty of crusty snow nearby which allowed easy passage with microspikes (I carried crampons, but was never tempted to use them). I used microspikes start to finish -- I thought about using snowshoes higher up on the trail, but given the re-frozen divots from someone yesterday, and the icy crust (with only a skiff of new snow, and a very few drifted areas), snowshoes would not have smoothed things out, and would have been a bit awkward; the re-frozen divots were not too deep (no real postholes) and were compatible with spikes. Warm temps and softening of the snow will call for snowshoes. As noted by an earlier poster, there is some logging along the lower part of the trail (stopping at about 1600 feet); there is a buffer on either side of the trail, and some new views down to the valley and over to the Presidentials. |
|
 | Name: |
PeterC |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2020-03-14 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
