Moosilauke: Glenncliff vs Gorge Brook

[Mohamed Ellozy]

I have done the Moose three times in winter, all by the Glencliff Trail. Seems like it is time to try something different I hope to hike it this coming Saturday with a friend who will be doing it for the first time in winter.

Gorge Brook is quite a bit longer when you add the road walk, but has a bit less elevation gain (2,900 feet vs 3,300), and the trail itself is less steep than the Glencliff. Also it should be better protected from any westerly winds.

Since I would like to visit the South Peak I would like to go down the Carriage Road and Snapper Trail. Both are used by skiers; is it appropriate to hike down them in winter?

Any downside to the Gorge Brook approach, other than the extra distance?

Thanks!!

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I've done them both ways many times in winter, and aside from the longer approach, I can't think of a down side to the Gorge Brook approach with this minor caveat - depending upon the weather, I've always felt the Gorge Brook had a slightly longer exposure. OTH - Gorge Brook is a bit more protected, whereas the last bit of Glencliff get the brunt of the prevailing NW winds.

But, mostly that picking at nats.

 

[Hillwalker]

Road and ski trails

The road was ungated on wednesday 1-24. Also, there is far too little snow for much skiing on Snapper so far. And I think that the Carriage Road is pretty low on the white stuff too. Since the CR is also open to Snow Machines hiking it is not in conflict with skiiers. The Dartmouth Outing Club site http://www.dartmouth.edu/~doc/moosilauke/ Used to state that it takes one to two feet of snowpack to make skiing practical on the Moose. Sadly we haven't had that yet. I'm sure Dave Metski can chime in on this.

 

[DougPaul]

Gorge Brook is quite a bit longer when you add the road walk, but has a bit less elevation gain (2,900 feet vs 3,300), and the trail itself is less steep than the Glencliff. Also it should be better protected from any westerly winds.

Most of Gorge Brook, Snapper, and the Carriage Rd are all protected from the westerlies. On the Carriage Rd, you are often just below the ridge line and I have heard the wind roaring overhead while I was only feeling light gusts. The section of ridge between the two summits is quite windy.

Since I would like to visit the South Peak I would like to go down the Carriage Road and Snapper Trail. Both are used by skiers; is it appropriate to hike down them in winter?

I have skied them both. I think most hikers take Gorge Brook rather than Snapper, but I have seen snowshoe tracks on both. If you hike them, just try to use snowshoes to minimze the damage to the snow. (And, of course, wait until I have gotten my first [ski] tracks in... )

Any downside to the Gorge Brook approach, other than the extra distance?

IMO, no. There are some nice views from it. Make sure that you look back as you pass treeline and from above--access to the upper end of the trail is not always obvious. It and Snapper make a nice loop. The upper Carriage Rd can get icy (exposed to the sun, snowmobile traffic, etc).

Doug

 

[David Metsky]

I may be skiing it on the weekend, via CR, so we'll see. People have skied it this year and it's certainly a bit sketchy. CR requires the least cover, since it's smoother and gets packed down by the snowmobiles. Snapper is next, then Gorge Brook which requires some serious snow.

Julie (hello, are you reading this?) is in charge of the gate so she can give an update on what the gate status is. I've never seen it open this late, it's kinda scary.

-dave-

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

Snowshoes needed?

Almost every post on the Trail Conditions in the past week says no snowshoes required, except for Tom and Atticus' Galehead-Twins, in which they (or at least Tom!) used snowshoes for a long time.

Any idea whether there is any point in bringing them? Will obviously bring crampons, so am seeking to minimize weight as much as is appropriate.

 

[DougPaul]

Almost every post on the Trail Conditions in the past week says no snowshoes required, except for Tom and Atticus' Galehead-Twins, in which they (or at least Tom!) used snowshoes for a long time.

Any idea whether there is any point in bringing them? Will obviously bring crampons, so am seeking to minimize weight as much as is appropriate.

My suggestion to "try to use snowshoes" was to minimze possible conflict with skiers. Postholes can render a trail unskiable.

I have no idea what current conditions on the Snapper and Gorge Brook Trs are right now. My tendency is to carry snowshoes if I think there might be any need. YMMV.

Doug

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

I have heard that if you do not wear your showshoes in the Daks, you get lynched. True story, eh?