BIGEarl
Well-known member
December 6, 2008: Moosilauke
Trails: Beaver Brook Trail
Summits: Moosilauke
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue), Kevinmac (Kevin McAllister), LRiz (Larisa), and me
As expected, Sue, Kevin, and I arrived at the trailhead for the Beaver Brook Trail in Kinsman Notch a little after 8:00am with a temperature in the low teens, high clouds, and no wind. A few minutes later LRiz (Larisa) pulled in and we were all busy with our final preparations for the day. By 8:30am we were off. Just ahead of us was a large AMC group also hiking the Beaver Brook Trail for Moosilauke. The trail is in generally great shape. It is well tracked out but the bottom section below the junction with the Asquam Ridge Trail is narrow and not suitable for snowshoes. I started bare booting and I believe the others were all on MICROSpikes. Evidently, the AMC group was traveling at roughly the same pace as us and we never met them until reaching the spur trail to the Beaver Brook Shelter above the cascades.
The bottom section of the trail is packed snow with little or no ice. The traction is very good. Along the way the steep sections have steps in the snow from prior traffic and are easy to get through. In very little time we first reached the warning signs before the climb, and then the bottom of the cascade.
Before heading up the steep climb I decided to add some traction. I had two choices; Stabilicers or crampons. I really didn’t think the Stabilicers would be a safe solution and went with the crampons. Soon, we were on the climb. The cascades are icing up but it doesn’t appear adequate for ice climbing. I got quite a few pictures of the cascades.
Slowly we made our way up the trail along the side of the cascade. There was no particular area of difficulty but it is a very steep trail which may be a concern to some. Eventually we reached the spur to the Beaver Brook Shelter and found the AMC group taking a quick break. They allowed us by and we continued to the ridge and the trail junction with the Asquam Ridge Trail. Above the spur to the shelter the trail gradually opened up and by the time we reached the ridge it was wide enough for snowshoe traffic. We continued on MICROSpikes and crampons. Near Mount Blue we stopped for some additional layers and then again for me to get rid of the crampons – they were no longer needed and the hiking would be more comfortable without them. While taking care of the crampons, the AMC group re-passed us.
From there it was a fairly quick hike to the Benton Trail junction. Here we stopped to add layers, face masks, goggles, and warmer mittens for the walk above the treeline. Even though we were not being hit with wind we were fairly sure the southeast wind that was forecast would be waiting for us above the treeline. And, it was. We have no way of knowing exactly how much wind we had but it was probably in the 30’s mph – just a guess. I believe Kevin thought it was higher. As we made our way across the final open section to the summit the large AMC group filed past in the opposite direction behind face masks and goggles.
Along the way I got a couple interesting pictures of the area and soon we were all at the summit post. Here, we got a couple pictures of me on the final summit of the second round of the 48 for this year. Then, I was able to get some nice pictures of the others. Then, the camera froze. Evidently, some moisture in the lens mechanism froze and the camera locked-up when I attempted to zoom in for a shot. At the time I assumed the batteries died and didn’t feel like fooling with them in the conditions that we had. So, off we went back to the shelter of the trees and the north slope of the mountain.
I pulled out replacement batteries and they didn’t help. I was fairly certain the replacements were fully charged and decided there was more of a problem. Assuming it may be an icing problem I placed the camera and case inside my coat to warm it up. A couple weeks earlier it worked on a frozen hydration line and there was no reason why it wouldn’t help here – if ice was the problem. While we were stopped, Kevin and I went with snowshoes for the hike across to the Asquam Ridge Trail junction. In the area of Mount Blue I decided to check in on the camera. I turned it on and after a false start it sequenced the lens and we were back in business. I missed out on the long-range shots from the summit, but that only means I’ll have to go back. I moved the case back to my chest and allowed the camera’s temperature to stabilize and eliminate the lens fogging. Then, I was able to get more shots on the way out.
Sue and Larisa were a couple of race horses on the way out. Every once in a while we caught up with them, or more accurately found them patiently waiting for us. They were still on MICROSpikes and having a great time. A short distance before the trail junction we came upon one of the members of the AMC hike that was evidently hiking at a slower pace than the crowd. Kevin and I decided to slow our pace and stay in contact with this other hiker on the way out. Since it was possible that he was the final hiker off the mountain we thought it best to stay close.
At the Asquam Ridge Trail junction I went back with crampons as did the other gentleman, and Kevin pulled out the MICROSpikes. All that was left was a relatively quick hike down from the ridge back to the trailhead. We all took our time and had no difficulties along the way. In a little over an hour we were back in the trailhead lot preparing for the drive south.
If the area does not get hit with significant warming or rain the trail along the cascades should be fine. Traction is needed but the trail is in great shape with little ice. Up high, using snowshoes to the treeline is probably best, and from there to the summit needs traction but with current conditions Stabilicers or MICROSpikes should do the job.
Thanks to Sue, Larisa, and Kevin for dragging me to the summit of Moosilauke. 4802 = 48x2 for 2008! It was a great day in the mountains.
Pictures will follow.
I’ve posted some pictures from the hike.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
Trails: Beaver Brook Trail
Summits: Moosilauke
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue), Kevinmac (Kevin McAllister), LRiz (Larisa), and me
As expected, Sue, Kevin, and I arrived at the trailhead for the Beaver Brook Trail in Kinsman Notch a little after 8:00am with a temperature in the low teens, high clouds, and no wind. A few minutes later LRiz (Larisa) pulled in and we were all busy with our final preparations for the day. By 8:30am we were off. Just ahead of us was a large AMC group also hiking the Beaver Brook Trail for Moosilauke. The trail is in generally great shape. It is well tracked out but the bottom section below the junction with the Asquam Ridge Trail is narrow and not suitable for snowshoes. I started bare booting and I believe the others were all on MICROSpikes. Evidently, the AMC group was traveling at roughly the same pace as us and we never met them until reaching the spur trail to the Beaver Brook Shelter above the cascades.
The bottom section of the trail is packed snow with little or no ice. The traction is very good. Along the way the steep sections have steps in the snow from prior traffic and are easy to get through. In very little time we first reached the warning signs before the climb, and then the bottom of the cascade.
Before heading up the steep climb I decided to add some traction. I had two choices; Stabilicers or crampons. I really didn’t think the Stabilicers would be a safe solution and went with the crampons. Soon, we were on the climb. The cascades are icing up but it doesn’t appear adequate for ice climbing. I got quite a few pictures of the cascades.
Slowly we made our way up the trail along the side of the cascade. There was no particular area of difficulty but it is a very steep trail which may be a concern to some. Eventually we reached the spur to the Beaver Brook Shelter and found the AMC group taking a quick break. They allowed us by and we continued to the ridge and the trail junction with the Asquam Ridge Trail. Above the spur to the shelter the trail gradually opened up and by the time we reached the ridge it was wide enough for snowshoe traffic. We continued on MICROSpikes and crampons. Near Mount Blue we stopped for some additional layers and then again for me to get rid of the crampons – they were no longer needed and the hiking would be more comfortable without them. While taking care of the crampons, the AMC group re-passed us.
From there it was a fairly quick hike to the Benton Trail junction. Here we stopped to add layers, face masks, goggles, and warmer mittens for the walk above the treeline. Even though we were not being hit with wind we were fairly sure the southeast wind that was forecast would be waiting for us above the treeline. And, it was. We have no way of knowing exactly how much wind we had but it was probably in the 30’s mph – just a guess. I believe Kevin thought it was higher. As we made our way across the final open section to the summit the large AMC group filed past in the opposite direction behind face masks and goggles.
Along the way I got a couple interesting pictures of the area and soon we were all at the summit post. Here, we got a couple pictures of me on the final summit of the second round of the 48 for this year. Then, I was able to get some nice pictures of the others. Then, the camera froze. Evidently, some moisture in the lens mechanism froze and the camera locked-up when I attempted to zoom in for a shot. At the time I assumed the batteries died and didn’t feel like fooling with them in the conditions that we had. So, off we went back to the shelter of the trees and the north slope of the mountain.
I pulled out replacement batteries and they didn’t help. I was fairly certain the replacements were fully charged and decided there was more of a problem. Assuming it may be an icing problem I placed the camera and case inside my coat to warm it up. A couple weeks earlier it worked on a frozen hydration line and there was no reason why it wouldn’t help here – if ice was the problem. While we were stopped, Kevin and I went with snowshoes for the hike across to the Asquam Ridge Trail junction. In the area of Mount Blue I decided to check in on the camera. I turned it on and after a false start it sequenced the lens and we were back in business. I missed out on the long-range shots from the summit, but that only means I’ll have to go back. I moved the case back to my chest and allowed the camera’s temperature to stabilize and eliminate the lens fogging. Then, I was able to get more shots on the way out.
Sue and Larisa were a couple of race horses on the way out. Every once in a while we caught up with them, or more accurately found them patiently waiting for us. They were still on MICROSpikes and having a great time. A short distance before the trail junction we came upon one of the members of the AMC hike that was evidently hiking at a slower pace than the crowd. Kevin and I decided to slow our pace and stay in contact with this other hiker on the way out. Since it was possible that he was the final hiker off the mountain we thought it best to stay close.
At the Asquam Ridge Trail junction I went back with crampons as did the other gentleman, and Kevin pulled out the MICROSpikes. All that was left was a relatively quick hike down from the ridge back to the trailhead. We all took our time and had no difficulties along the way. In a little over an hour we were back in the trailhead lot preparing for the drive south.
If the area does not get hit with significant warming or rain the trail along the cascades should be fine. Traction is needed but the trail is in great shape with little ice. Up high, using snowshoes to the treeline is probably best, and from there to the summit needs traction but with current conditions Stabilicers or MICROSpikes should do the job.
Thanks to Sue, Larisa, and Kevin for dragging me to the summit of Moosilauke. 4802 = 48x2 for 2008! It was a great day in the mountains.
Pictures will follow.
I’ve posted some pictures from the hike.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
Last edited:
