| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Moose Mountain - South Peak, Moose Mountain - North Peak, Holts Ledge, Smarts Mountain, Mt. Cube, Mt. Mist, Mt. Moosilauke, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Road walk, Velvet Rocks Trail, Hanover Center Trail, Moose Mountain Trail, Holts Ledge Trail, Skiway Trail, Lambert Ridge Trail, J Trail, Kodak Trail, Mt. Cube Trail, Atwell Hill Trail, Ore Hill Trail, Wachipauka Pond Trail, Town Line Trail, Glencliff Trail, Carriage Road, Gorge Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 18, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
parked on the Dartmouth Green where my truck is now being held hostage by the Chad Hero race event |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
the crossing on the town line trail is tricky to stay dry but I found a rock hop on tiny rocks. Water is very shallow but crossing is very wide. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
a few blowdowns on every trail-nothing crazy though. everything was in great shape |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
All these trails are good dog trails |
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 | Bugs: |
a few of those weird little flying thingy's that like to climb into your hairline and feel/look a bit like ticks |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Successful unsupported day hike of the iconic Dartmouth 50 route. Set the alarm for midnight and rolled down the hill to Hanover for a 1AM start at Robinson Hall, home of the Dartmouth Outing Club. Very chilly start to the day. Made quick work of the town walk and first two trails to link up with Moose. Lots of owls out making noise! Holts was a grind for some reason and legs were feeling a bit tight-I was not confident I would be finishing the route. Sun came out at the skiway and was a great morale booster. Consumed 200 mg of caffeine, busted out trekking poles for the first time since injuring first shoulder in May, and really enjoyed the climb up Lambert Ridge in the morning glow. Great views from the tower. View to Moosilauke was daunting, but it was 9AM and I knew I had a gorgeous day ahead of me for hiking.
Second half of hike started great, but mystery pain in left foot was consistent and worrisome. Disappeared for a bit up Cube, but then reappeared with great intensity for about ten minutes before going away again. Almost bailed down Cross Rivendell but decided to keep trekking and flew down Cube Trail with pole assistance, feeling great. From 25A to Moosilauke was awesome-only saw four people and the trails were generally soft and woods were beautiful. The descent down Mt. Mist was way steeper and rougher than I remembered; however, and felt unnecessarily cruel just before having to contend with Moosilauke.
Speaking of Moosilauke, I remember now why I have never re-hiked the Glencliff Trail. What a grueling climb after forty-two miles. All day I was hoping to make the summit for sunset, but it got dark on me halfway up and once again I found myself hiking in the dark. It felt like that climb was never going to end, and I started to become delirious and wobbly on my feet. Lack of sleep the two previous nights and extreme fatigue caught up with me hard. Called Mrs. Spence and the kiddos from the summit and started hobbling down Gorge Brook as quickly as I could. Both feet were screaming at me every step and everything hurt really bad. Was extremely nauseous as well. I started having minor hallucinations and almost fell several times- Moosilauke was very wet/muddy in all the normal places from recent rains.
Finally limped past the lodge at 9PM and saw a short headlamp running towards me-I knew it was Margaret and I received the greatest hug of my life. Huge thanks to Mrs. Spence for allowing me to wreck bedtime for everyone and picking me up with pizza and ice cream. Saw fewer than twenty people in twenty hours of fall AT hiking (not counting all the drunk kids running around Dartmouth Campus at 1AM). An epic day of joy and suffering which I am currently paying the price for. |
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 | Name: |
Silent Running |
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 | E-Mail: |
stormyweatherholt@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-10-19 |
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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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