| 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: |
Monday, April 11, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty. I was the first car there in the morning, and only three others when I returned. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The two biggest crossings without wooden bridges were both easy rock hops. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
About 4-5 trees across the section of Stony Brook Trail between the two crossings without wooden bridges. All are easy step-overs. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A stunningly beautiful day in the mountains. Cobalt blue sky, little wind, and temps on the summit reaching into the low 40s. And I had it all to myself! The only other hikers I encountered were doing short woods walks below the snow line. Judging by the boot prints in the snow it appeared that only one other person had been up this route since the recent snow. But it looked like a small army had recently come up the other side on the Carter-Moriah Trail.
The lower section of Stony Brook Trail is mostly dry, with small sections of mud and/or running water. The micro-spikes went on around 2,200 feet of elevation. From there to the summit it was mostly frozen granular in the morning, but softening to a layer of mashed potatoes in the afternoon. I encountered the first of the recent snow just below the ridge and it increased in depth to around two inches at the summit. There was very little hard ice and micro-spikes could have been used all the way to the summit, but my spikes were balling up badly and I switch to crampons for the anti-balling plates. Much easier. In the brilliant sun the new snow clinging to the trees looked like something out of a fairy tale, but it was melting quickly in the warming temps and pelted me constantly on the return across the ridge. It will all be gone in a day or two.
Reaching the car early I went over to the Shelburne area and took the White Trail up to Crow's Nest. Views are restricted by vegetation, but it is a pleasant, very easy woods walk, and checked this short trail off the list. If you have not been to this area and decide to go, be sure and go into the Philbrook Farm Inn and tell the management you are parking your car there. This request is mentioned in the AMC Guide. You'll also see the inside of this very attractive, historic inn and get directions to the trailhead, which is not obvious. |
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 | Name: |
Tom Harris |
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 | E-Mail: |
tdharris911@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-04-12 |
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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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