Bobby
Active member
Marty and I went back and forth several times over where to hike. We wanted to get to Moosilauke, but the forecast for high wind sent us instead to Moriah. Marty offered to drive, and we headed north. The weather was clear, and temps in the 20's. It looked like we would have a great day.
We started up the Stony Brook Trail about 8:30 AM, and we were the first, and only ones out this day. We both wore traction from the get-go, Stabilicers for me and Micro-Spikes for Marty. We saw plenty of tracks left by mice, racoons, moose and deer. At the first stream crossing, we wandered up the stream a way, to where there is a three way crossing. This was the easiest place we found to cross, and made it through okay. The rest of the crossings presented no problems. After a nice walk in the woods, the trail got steep, and layers began to get stripped off. I was down to t-shirts for most of the trip,and Marty had a Dri-Climb shell. There was little wind, and the skies were clear blue. There was snow on the trail, and some ice here and there.
We made decent time to the Carter-Moriah Trail junction, even though I needed several breath catching stops along the way. As we worked our way up the C-M Trail, we encountered lots of ice. Our traction worked pretty well, and we got up the icy sections without major problems. The summit of Moriah offered views all around. We spend about half an hour there, eating lunch and soaking in the beautiful day and the sights.
On the way down, we went off trail just off the summit to bypass an icy stretch and were back on the Carter-Moriah Trail. We got to one icy section, Marty made it down by bushwhacking, and I followed, only to slip and crash. I managed to smack myself in the mouth with a pole as I hit the ground. No permanent damage, and we continued on, reaching the last stretch of icy section. Again, Marty found a good route just off the trail, and I followed. I grabbed onto a tree and was setting my feet, when I slipped. In a flash I thought "No problem, I'm holding a tree." Then I heard CRACK and thought..."Oh no....not again!" The tree broke, and down I went in a train wreck, hitting several trees on the way, and coming to a stop upon hitting another tree. Marty was very concerned, until he heard me laughing at myself. It took a few minutes to gather myself and get back on my feet, but again, save for a few aches, we continued.
We made it back across the stream crossings and to the Marty's truck without further incident. I got home and checked myself out in a mirror, to find some colorful bruises on my back and side.
Thanks to Marty for helping reach #36. It was a great weather day, and a great hike with a great friend. I'm looking forward to more.
Some pictures from the Moriah hike
We started up the Stony Brook Trail about 8:30 AM, and we were the first, and only ones out this day. We both wore traction from the get-go, Stabilicers for me and Micro-Spikes for Marty. We saw plenty of tracks left by mice, racoons, moose and deer. At the first stream crossing, we wandered up the stream a way, to where there is a three way crossing. This was the easiest place we found to cross, and made it through okay. The rest of the crossings presented no problems. After a nice walk in the woods, the trail got steep, and layers began to get stripped off. I was down to t-shirts for most of the trip,and Marty had a Dri-Climb shell. There was little wind, and the skies were clear blue. There was snow on the trail, and some ice here and there.
We made decent time to the Carter-Moriah Trail junction, even though I needed several breath catching stops along the way. As we worked our way up the C-M Trail, we encountered lots of ice. Our traction worked pretty well, and we got up the icy sections without major problems. The summit of Moriah offered views all around. We spend about half an hour there, eating lunch and soaking in the beautiful day and the sights.
On the way down, we went off trail just off the summit to bypass an icy stretch and were back on the Carter-Moriah Trail. We got to one icy section, Marty made it down by bushwhacking, and I followed, only to slip and crash. I managed to smack myself in the mouth with a pole as I hit the ground. No permanent damage, and we continued on, reaching the last stretch of icy section. Again, Marty found a good route just off the trail, and I followed. I grabbed onto a tree and was setting my feet, when I slipped. In a flash I thought "No problem, I'm holding a tree." Then I heard CRACK and thought..."Oh no....not again!" The tree broke, and down I went in a train wreck, hitting several trees on the way, and coming to a stop upon hitting another tree. Marty was very concerned, until he heard me laughing at myself. It took a few minutes to gather myself and get back on my feet, but again, save for a few aches, we continued.
We made it back across the stream crossings and to the Marty's truck without further incident. I got home and checked myself out in a mirror, to find some colorful bruises on my back and side.
Thanks to Marty for helping reach #36. It was a great weather day, and a great hike with a great friend. I'm looking forward to more.
Some pictures from the Moriah hike
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. Oh well, thankfully I have seen them before, and it gives Gary and excuse to go back! My first time up was from Bangor Road staying on the Carter-Moriah all the way up. I have to say this route up Stony Brook was MUCH more amazing! The snow capped Pressis were a stunning backdrop!
