| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt Surprise and Mt Moriah, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Carter-Moriah Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, April 20, 2026 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was the first one in the lot and there is plenty of room for about 7 cars if folks park carefully. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
N/A |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are some new blowdowns on the trail since last month. They are easy to get around. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen today. :( The trail is in good shape for puppers. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Still in Hell |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing lost and nothing found |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
I was expecting more snow would have fallen last night but instead, it snowed most of the hike today. There is bare ground and a dusting of snow down low. The ledges around Mt Surprise had frozen run off mixed with bare rock to start. Initially I picked my way up them, trying to stay on the dry rock. But there was more ice as I ascended and it got too tedious so I put on Hillsound Pros. It continued alternating with ice, bare rock, sticky snow, breakable ice, etc all the way up. The new snow covered up the blue ice higher up and since it was cold today, the ice was not soft and I had trouble getting any traction in places. By the time I was within a mile of the summit it was like a blizzard up there and the snow was accumulating. Initially, even up high it was only an inch but on my way back down there was probably 3 inches. The trail is too lumpy for snowshoes so light traction is still going to be the best choice. On the descent even my Pros were balling up and I was kicking clumps of snow off at every rock and tree. I tried threats and foul language but that didn't work either. Finally just before Mt Surprise I took the spikes off and bare booted the rest of the way. That was much better and the ice from the morning had melted out. I am guessing the new snow won't stick around long but spikes will still be needed. I know it's April and we are all over the whole snow thing, but it sure was pretty up there this morning. It was like hiking in a little snow globe. :) |
|
 | Name: |
Uki |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ukisukinaminanu@yahoo.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2026-04-20 |
|
 | 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. |
|
