rocksnrolls
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2005
- Messages
- 371
- Reaction score
- 47
My friend Hugo and I had planned to hike Moosilauke (my #10, his #4) today since the start of July, probably via Gorge Brook. Unfortunately he hurt himself on Wednesday when we hiked Monadnock so he couldn't make it. So I decided to head up there anyways and after reading up on the various routes to the top, chose the steep Beaver Brook Trail.
There were a few cars in the lot when I got there at 8:45 but I didn't see any other hikers until I hit the ridge. Conditions where great, cool around 80 at the start. Everything was nice and dry. I took my time with the steep climb up parallel to the beaustifully cascading Beaver Brook. I took full advantage of the many iron bar hand-holds and heavy-duty wooden steps along the steepest parts. This trail is excellently maintained but I dont think I'd every do it in the winter.
I checked out the Beaver Brook Shelter on the way up. Awesome view from this one. Must be popular with nobo thru-hikers, you can see the peaks heading north to Franconia that you'll be travellling the next day.
The next stretch of the trail is a little easier and since I was feeling rested from my snack at the shelter, I decided to head east at the Asquam Ridge Tr intersection and bag Mt Jim before heading over to Moosilauke. I met my first hikers for the day after turning east and would later meet them again as I neared Moosilauke. Mt Jim's summit wasn't much to see, so I quickly turned around and headed to Moosilauke. The trail goes right over the summit, right?
I would've liked to bag Mt Blue along the way, but never saw an obvious way to bushwack it. Do people come up from the Benton Tr or what?
I encountered more people as I headed to the Moosilauke summit. Some section-hikers and a couple thru-hikers. It was getting pretty windy as the trees thinned out and I was glad I brought a jacket with me. The temp at the summit was about 60 and with the wind it fealt like 40s. The views were great - even though it was overcast and hazy I could still see most of the Whites from there. I wolfed down my sandwich within the foundation of the old lodge (along with around 40 other hikers) and started heading back after a short rest.
I definately took my time heading back down the steep sections of the Beaver Brook. You could really hurt yourself on this one if you're not careful! I wonder what the thru-hikers feel when they hit this trail?
Best animal sighting of the day - came across my first spruce grouse on the ridge a short time west of the Asquam Ridge Tr. I read that the juveniles and females look very similar and I'm thinking maybe this was a juvenile. It was pecking at the ground when I came around the bend about 20 feet from it and it didn't immediately take off. I managed to get up within 10 feet of it by warbling to it and moving slowly. It seemed to be curious about my whistling and only walked off the trail into the woods when I decided to continue on past it. What a beautiful bird!
There were a few cars in the lot when I got there at 8:45 but I didn't see any other hikers until I hit the ridge. Conditions where great, cool around 80 at the start. Everything was nice and dry. I took my time with the steep climb up parallel to the beaustifully cascading Beaver Brook. I took full advantage of the many iron bar hand-holds and heavy-duty wooden steps along the steepest parts. This trail is excellently maintained but I dont think I'd every do it in the winter.
I checked out the Beaver Brook Shelter on the way up. Awesome view from this one. Must be popular with nobo thru-hikers, you can see the peaks heading north to Franconia that you'll be travellling the next day.
The next stretch of the trail is a little easier and since I was feeling rested from my snack at the shelter, I decided to head east at the Asquam Ridge Tr intersection and bag Mt Jim before heading over to Moosilauke. I met my first hikers for the day after turning east and would later meet them again as I neared Moosilauke. Mt Jim's summit wasn't much to see, so I quickly turned around and headed to Moosilauke. The trail goes right over the summit, right?
I would've liked to bag Mt Blue along the way, but never saw an obvious way to bushwack it. Do people come up from the Benton Tr or what?
I encountered more people as I headed to the Moosilauke summit. Some section-hikers and a couple thru-hikers. It was getting pretty windy as the trees thinned out and I was glad I brought a jacket with me. The temp at the summit was about 60 and with the wind it fealt like 40s. The views were great - even though it was overcast and hazy I could still see most of the Whites from there. I wolfed down my sandwich within the foundation of the old lodge (along with around 40 other hikers) and started heading back after a short rest.
I definately took my time heading back down the steep sections of the Beaver Brook. You could really hurt yourself on this one if you're not careful! I wonder what the thru-hikers feel when they hit this trail?
Best animal sighting of the day - came across my first spruce grouse on the ridge a short time west of the Asquam Ridge Tr. I read that the juveniles and females look very similar and I'm thinking maybe this was a juvenile. It was pecking at the ground when I came around the bend about 20 feet from it and it didn't immediately take off. I managed to get up within 10 feet of it by warbling to it and moving slowly. It seemed to be curious about my whistling and only walked off the trail into the woods when I decided to continue on past it. What a beautiful bird!
I heard a while later that it was still there but that was 2 years ago.
