| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Moriah, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Stony Brook Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 3, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the dirt surfaced, large parking area for the Stony Brook Trailhead off NH 16 in Gorham, NH. Kiosk, no privy. Nice lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The first two crossings of Stony Brook are bridged with nice wooden bridges. The third crossing was a challenge today with the freezing temps, ice slathered rocks, and increased water levels from spring melt-off. Our boots got wet... |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Great updated blue blazes in crucial areas on the Stony Brook. This trail is blazed for winter navigation. Some blazes faded but discernible. About 2.6 miles in on the Stony there is a blow down that is being hiked around. This little birch could be disposed of with a handsaw. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great trails for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Stony Brook Trl > Carter-Moriah Trl > Mt. Moriah Spur > and back the way we came.
Stony Brook: well blazed in blue. Popular trail. We barebooted on the foreign bare earth (I mean it’s been, like, 4 months since I’ve hiked on bare ground) for 2.5 miles. See water crossing notes above. At the second medium sized water crossing we donned the micro spikes. Snow levels were too shallow for snowshoes (shhhh... my snowshoes don’t know the season is over) plus it would just be too frustrating to wear snowshoes over the disintegrating, misshapen, narrow monorail. Above 2500 feet there is still snow, but very shallow levels. Snow that was firm on our crossing in the morning had disappeared in the afternoon sun. No juvenile bear this trip... Mashed potato snow appeared after noon. It is shallow and does not support snowshoes (I tried). This trail is well broken out when the snow level starts.
Carter-Moriah: this is the AT and is blazed in standard white blazes, supplemented by cairns. So sorry... I’ve been here multiple times and didn’t pay attention to blazing frequency. This is also a popular segment of trail with a well defined footbed (or snowbed in this instance). We hiked up in micro spikes as the snow was shallow and we didn’t post hole when stepping off trail. Snow levels are very low (1/4 inch to 1 inch). This trail is well broken out.
Mt. Moriah Spur: sign visible above the snowpack. No blazes for this short segment. Geographical marker now visible in the rock. Great views today.
On the return we left our spikes on until the same spot we put them on. But really, we could have taken them off earlier. The snow is very shallow. The monorail is not tall, nor are there huge post holes next to the rail. Spring always brings such a mixed bag of snow conditions. My son and I brought our snowshoes, but these bugghas took a ride on our packs today. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-04-03 |
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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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