| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Moosilauke, Mt. Moosilauke - South Peak, Hurricane Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Glencliff Trail, Carriage Road, South Peak Spur, Hurricane Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, April 28, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot is in good condition. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings were small and easy step-overs. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Glencliff Trail and Carriage Road are in great shape. Hurricane Trail does not see much traffic, but the recently painted blazes make it very easy to follow. The stream and bog bridges are in good shape. But there are several large blow-downs on Hurricane Trail that partially or completely block the trail, especially on the west side of the ridge. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
A few butterflies have emerged. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
There were no recent trail reports for Moosilauke, so not knowing what trail conditions we would encounter, we brought snowshoes in addition to micro-spikes. The first patches of snow on the Glencliff Trail started at 3,100’. The micro-spikes went on at 3,500’ and stayed on to the summit and down Carriage Road until just below the junction with Snapper Trail. The snowpack on Glencliff Trail increased steadily with altitude and was around two feet thick at the junction with Carriage Road. Carriage Road snowpack above Glencliff Trail varied from 2+ feet to just a few inches in sunny spots above the scrub line.
The trail surface started off firm in the morning with just a thin layer of loose snow, but deteriorated rapidly in the warming sun, especially so on the Carriage Road with its southern exposure. By noontime a few small pools of slush were already beginning to form. Footing was a little tricky. We never post-holed, but our feet would occasionally slide off the narrow hard-packed center of the trail. It was not so bad that we ever felt the need for snowshoes, and they stayed on our packs. There were a few isolated patches of snow on the highest elevations of Hurricane Trail, but they were easily negotiated in bare boots.
Mountain wildflowers have started to open. Carolina Spring Beauty were found in small numbers on Hurricane Trail at around the 2,000 foot level, along with yellow violets (Viola rotundifolia). Trillium have started to leaf out, but the buds have not opened. From 2,000 feet up to the snowline on Carriage Road and Hurricane Trail the distinctive leaves of yellow trout lily have started to push up in great numbers, with a small number of flowers open. I do not recall seeing so many of this flower emerging - in spots the trail and adjoining woods were literally carpeted with them. It will be quit a show in a few weeks.
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 | Name: |
Tom Harris |
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 | E-Mail: |
tdharris911@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-04-29 |
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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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