grouseking
Well-known member
So many things combined to make this hike up the Moose the best of my life. The way I went wasn't too difficult so I could take in the scenery, I took new trails that I haven't taken before, I got to hike with my dad, the weather was beautiful, I had wildlife encounters, I met up with special people I haven't seen in a long time, and I got to hike solo for awhile. It was a wonderful day in the mountains.
I headed up with my Dad to Ravine Lodge Rd and just before the turnoff we saw a cow moose heading into the woods on the right. Like a tourist, Dad slammed on his breaks, backed up 100 ft and told me to take a picture. There were no other cars within sight, thankfully. I saw the moose in there eating away, occasionally looking up at me. I never took a pic of him...it almost felt like I shouldn't take a pic. I kind of admired him more from the road chowing down than taking a crappy pic that prob wouldn't come in anyway. After 2 min, we were off to the road and to park, where we saw many turkeys.
The plan was to hike the Asquam Ridge trail, hook onto the Beaver Brook, summit the mtn and then have us go our separate ways. I had a friend on the Benton Trail side doing some goldpanning so I would take the Benton Trail down to meet him. The trail up was peaceful, easy, never overly steep, so I took in everything. Before I knew it we were above 4,000 ft and 4 miles into the hike at the Beaver Brook junction. There wern't too many mtn views along the trail, but the views were very unique. I'll let the pics talk for me.
Up the Beaver Brook trail we went, which was a little more difficult thanks to more rocks and a slightly steeper incline, but I was still in good shape. Lots of pics were snapped, and then we were at the junction with the Benton Trail, a mere 10-15 min from the summit. The approach to treeline was very climatic. You turn the corner, and BAM....no trees....and views open up for at least 180 degrees. Up the hill we went to the summit where we shared it with 30 of our closest friends.
But it didn't matter to me. You don't come to Moosilauke to be alone.
After relaxing on the summit, I happened to see kids frm a summer camp that I worked at last year in Piermont. I reintroduced myself to them, and surprisingly they were fast to remember me and happy to see me! It made me feel good, and I talked to them for a good hour. It was fun catching up and it made me realize how much I actually miss camp. Unfortunetely, I had to get rolling. Dad and I went our separate ways. I didn't want to leave at all, but I had no choice so off I went, down the trail towards the Benton junction. I saw a thru hiker with a feather in his hat and a long ZZ Top beard roll by me...kind of amusing but I admire his efforts to hike so far. The Benton trail was a new trail for me and I was looking forward to it. I like trails that aren't as heavily traveled. It was easy to follow, but nice and narrow throughout most of its length. Partway down I saw a spruce grouse chilling in the middle of the trail. I whipped out the camera to get a pic of it, but suddenly the stupid thing flapped its wings and flew up almost in my face and took off! It scared the crap out of me and I didn't get a good pic. It would have made a great video though! So my grouse encounters continue....
The trail was pretty but uneventful compared to the viewpoint of Tunnel Brook Ravine at 2800 ft. I was blown away by the magnitude of some of the cliffs. You could hear the water crashing down into the valley. It was awe inspiring. That was worth the hike all in itself.
Suddenly, within 5 minutes of the viewpoint, the forest changed from nearly all spruce/fir to all northern hardwoods. It was the fastest transition I have ever seen on a mountain and it kind of took me by surprise. Then I heard something very large run away from me. It startled me for a moment, but I shrugged it off and kept going. I figured it ran away from me so I was good. I believe it was a bear because about 1/10 of a mile further down, there was a logging road that passed that had a huge patch of ripe raspberries....already half eaten. So I finished the job. A few minutes later I was at the trailhead and there was a note there saying Matt's mom would come and pick me up around 4:15 and 4:30 so start walking down the road. It was 4:05 so I had made very good time. I heard one more loud noise in the woods along Tunnel Brook Rd which made me think another bear was watching me from nearby. They really are everywhere in the Whites. I was picked up a few minutes later and we drove down to where Matt and his grandmother were goldpanning. It was a fantastic trip filled with many surprises to go along with some beautiful scenery. To top it off, it was my birthday so it made it all the more special. I took 163 pics of the Moosilauke trip but have cut it down to 100 for webshots...somehow. I also took more of the gold panning and tunnel brook as well as a trip over to Long Pond. As soon as I get those loaded I'll post them. To sum up, it was my third summit of the Moose and the best hike of my life. Here are the Moosilauke pics .
grouseking
It is great to be alive.
I headed up with my Dad to Ravine Lodge Rd and just before the turnoff we saw a cow moose heading into the woods on the right. Like a tourist, Dad slammed on his breaks, backed up 100 ft and told me to take a picture. There were no other cars within sight, thankfully. I saw the moose in there eating away, occasionally looking up at me. I never took a pic of him...it almost felt like I shouldn't take a pic. I kind of admired him more from the road chowing down than taking a crappy pic that prob wouldn't come in anyway. After 2 min, we were off to the road and to park, where we saw many turkeys.
The plan was to hike the Asquam Ridge trail, hook onto the Beaver Brook, summit the mtn and then have us go our separate ways. I had a friend on the Benton Trail side doing some goldpanning so I would take the Benton Trail down to meet him. The trail up was peaceful, easy, never overly steep, so I took in everything. Before I knew it we were above 4,000 ft and 4 miles into the hike at the Beaver Brook junction. There wern't too many mtn views along the trail, but the views were very unique. I'll let the pics talk for me.
Up the Beaver Brook trail we went, which was a little more difficult thanks to more rocks and a slightly steeper incline, but I was still in good shape. Lots of pics were snapped, and then we were at the junction with the Benton Trail, a mere 10-15 min from the summit. The approach to treeline was very climatic. You turn the corner, and BAM....no trees....and views open up for at least 180 degrees. Up the hill we went to the summit where we shared it with 30 of our closest friends.
But it didn't matter to me. You don't come to Moosilauke to be alone. After relaxing on the summit, I happened to see kids frm a summer camp that I worked at last year in Piermont. I reintroduced myself to them, and surprisingly they were fast to remember me and happy to see me! It made me feel good, and I talked to them for a good hour. It was fun catching up and it made me realize how much I actually miss camp. Unfortunetely, I had to get rolling. Dad and I went our separate ways. I didn't want to leave at all, but I had no choice so off I went, down the trail towards the Benton junction. I saw a thru hiker with a feather in his hat and a long ZZ Top beard roll by me...kind of amusing but I admire his efforts to hike so far. The Benton trail was a new trail for me and I was looking forward to it. I like trails that aren't as heavily traveled. It was easy to follow, but nice and narrow throughout most of its length. Partway down I saw a spruce grouse chilling in the middle of the trail. I whipped out the camera to get a pic of it, but suddenly the stupid thing flapped its wings and flew up almost in my face and took off! It scared the crap out of me and I didn't get a good pic. It would have made a great video though! So my grouse encounters continue....
The trail was pretty but uneventful compared to the viewpoint of Tunnel Brook Ravine at 2800 ft. I was blown away by the magnitude of some of the cliffs. You could hear the water crashing down into the valley. It was awe inspiring. That was worth the hike all in itself.
Suddenly, within 5 minutes of the viewpoint, the forest changed from nearly all spruce/fir to all northern hardwoods. It was the fastest transition I have ever seen on a mountain and it kind of took me by surprise. Then I heard something very large run away from me. It startled me for a moment, but I shrugged it off and kept going. I figured it ran away from me so I was good. I believe it was a bear because about 1/10 of a mile further down, there was a logging road that passed that had a huge patch of ripe raspberries....already half eaten. So I finished the job.
A few minutes later I was at the trailhead and there was a note there saying Matt's mom would come and pick me up around 4:15 and 4:30 so start walking down the road. It was 4:05 so I had made very good time. I heard one more loud noise in the woods along Tunnel Brook Rd which made me think another bear was watching me from nearby. They really are everywhere in the Whites. I was picked up a few minutes later and we drove down to where Matt and his grandmother were goldpanning. It was a fantastic trip filled with many surprises to go along with some beautiful scenery. To top it off, it was my birthday so it made it all the more special. I took 163 pics of the Moosilauke trip but have cut it down to 100 for webshots...somehow. I also took more of the gold panning and tunnel brook as well as a trip over to Long Pond. As soon as I get those loaded I'll post them. To sum up, it was my third summit of the Moose and the best hike of my life. Here are the Moosilauke pics . grouseking
It is great to be alive.
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