Come with me to Mount Moriah

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Ridgewalker

New member
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
427
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Location
Vermont
30 December 2008


Marty and I headed off into the woods to tag Moriah for my 4K list. We commenced the climb at 0835 up Stony Brook with packed snow. No traction was required until the first stream crossing. As we passed through the realm of the Carters we tasted the pretty sight of snow glazed stream rocks, verdant conifers, and a calm rush of water, added to the stillness and solitude of our climb.

After fiddling with crampons Marty proceeded to make the inaugural cross, where after cautiously driving his poles into the ground he was close to dry ground. The snow drift gave out and he plunged down. Luckily he was not wet. He tried to rise up, but I came to his aid in getting him situated. In today's vernacular, our jaunt would have been screwed had Marty taken a winter swim.

Our climb was shared with some folks that we think were an AMC group. Relations were cordial between our duo and them. They laid way for our entry breaking any powder in the broken trail.

Climbing gradually Marty and I joined up with the AMC people just before the ridge as we all geared up. Entering into the scrub we were treated to some shadowy views of the country. It was like white and slate mixed together in the winter scenery.

Then came the wind. Marty and I were swept off our feet in this wind tunnel. This was like MadTownie's trip up Moosilauke, where the winds were tantamount in strength. We had some cover and woods to break up the tempest and ice that created our little adventure.

What grabbed our attention was odd forty pace count by the AMC group. The world may never know what our counterparts were attempting to demarcate or do in their climb.

Soon it was Marty and I alone in the rough woods. It was a whole another world with the frost holding down the conifers and snow, a lovely scene. After plodding along in our last leg, we had the summit. The climb did not come without a tussle.

Booking it out of the ridge, I led for a change with stylish new frost tinted glasses, courtesy of Mother Nature. Getting out of the wind tunnel was relief. Now came the fun part. I ran at intervals down the mountain at an excellent three mile clip. Before one could say, 'alligator eggs,' Marty and I were down at flatter parts of the trail. The rest was leisurely exit to the drama of the climb. The two heroes rode off into dying day victorious of another peak down, and more memories made.

Notes:

Crampons and snowshoes a must for traction. Be sure to also don your goggles and face mask when on the ridge. Also include in your gear a daring temperament. Hike completed exactly six hours


Ridgewalker
 
Last edited:
Nicely written TR, Clarke. It was nice to get out alone, to spend some quality time together and reminisce of our late, great friend, Ray.

Thanks for pulling me to safety. It was definitely a helpless feeling to have the right side of my body on the bank and the right side dangling over the icy brook. Not sure if I could have righted myself alone without getting pretty wet.

Just a couple things to add to your informative report:

In addition to the large and friendly group, we met another couple and a solo hiker, too.

The Stony Brook and C-M trails are well packed, but the C-M was unbroken south of the Stony Brook trail and north of the summit. C-M was hard to follow in spots, as the wind kept covering up snowshoe tracks.

Definitely a well earned 4k for you! Glad I could join you. Looking forward to our next adventure this weekend :D


Marty
 
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