Mount Moriah...Virtual Scouting...

[w7xman]

I plan at some point in the next week, with good weather, to do an overnight to get a shot of Mount Washington and the Presidentials at dawn. From What I've seen in trip reports, Mount Moriah has both a lofty view, a oft unseen angle, and plenty of foreground and leading ridges, but I have not done Moriah before...

My plan is to hike up midday to either the Imp campsite, or some other logical and legal tentpoint, scout with remaining light if possible, and get up EARLY for a push for the summit.

My question: My map shows a viewpoint at the summit, where I've seen shots from, but also many viewpoints along the ridge from Imp to the summit. I've also read about 'southern slabs' on the mountain.

The less hiking in the predawn hours the better for me. Does anyone have any recommendations for specific views before I get to the summit. Will these be obvious? Best yet, does anyone have any shots that could be matched with a map or landmark?

Any help appreciated...Thanks in advance.

 

[SteveHiker]

There are many viewpoints on the ledges on the way to the summit. I have some pictures from this summer. I can post a link to them and give approximate map locations where they came from later tonight. It is a very dramatic view and like you said not as celebrated as some others.

 

[darren]

Thanks for stealing my idea! (yah, ok, it is not a very original one )

Seriously, I have wanted to do the same thing for a couple of years. The last last couple of years just haven't been the best for me. The funny thing is that 2 days ago Carmel and I were talking about things we want to do next year and this was one of them.

- darren

 

[w7xman]

Thanks for stealing my idea! (yah, ok, it is not a very original one )

Seriously, I have wanted to do the same thing for a couple of years. The last last couple of years just haven't been the best for me. The funny thing is that 2 days ago Carmel and I were talking about things we want to do next year and this was one of them.

- darren

Great minds think alike...or I must be on the right track here...

Thanks SteveHiker: I'd love to see the pics if you have the time!!!

 

[nartreb]

here's a preview from the slabs below the summit, taken on a hazy summer day with a small camera.

 

[forestgnome]

Nartreb, thanks, nice picture, worth a thousand words!

I've been thinking about something similar, but from Mt. Hight. You've probably been there, but if not, check the "Carter Notch" thread for a view. I'd love to catch that in alpinglow, maybe with a bit of valley fog down low. However, I'll be doing it as an early hike all the way from the 19 Mile Brook Trailhead, probably in April. Have fun, whatever you do.

Happy Trails

 

[Stan]

The view of Madison and Adams from Imp Face, which I observed at a summer sunset is striking, And, no visible towers or buildings. I imagine it might rival a winter sunrise of Washington.

I would think the further south you go the more dramatic the photo as Tuckermans and Huntington dominate the view but I don't remember the view from Middle or South Carter, both within reasonable distance of Imp campsite.

Kearsage North offers a good telescopic view and a fire tower to hunker down in.

I think there's a view from Black Mountain, too, though I can't attest to it since it was sopped in the time I hiked it. There is also a Forest Service cabin nearby that you can reserve.

 

[SteveHiker]

ok here's the promised pictures

Right after you pass the Stony Brook jct on the left you'll come to the Moriah Brook jct on the right. You go around the corner towards the left and up a little and emerge on a ledge facing to the east.
You go up these stairs:
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832
Well, they're there in the summer. there's then a ledge off trail to the left. It's about 5 or 6 feet high and a bit of a scramble in summer. This is where I took this:
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832
and this:
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832
The ledges on the trail alternate between east facing and west facing as you go in and out of the woods. A short distance up the trail you come to the first west-facer that's on the trail. The view is similar:
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832
As you get to the really long ledge area just before the trail goes back into the woods and arcs to the left to approach the summit, you finally get a clearer view without North Carter/Imp/whatever its name is in the way.
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832
http://stevethehiker.phanfare.com/album/176832

I don't recall the summit itself having that great a view of the Presis, but it was really windy that day and I didn't stay on the actual summit very long. The other time I was there was almost 4 years ago, and I don't remember from then either. The summit is a large flat-topped boulder and might have room for 4 people.

These pictures don't really do it justice. It was kinda hazy that day, and the sun was not really in a favorable position for me either. I'm still pretty amateurish at taking pictures and I have a simple point and shoot so I can't clean them up. But I think you can get the basic idea of what it looks like.
The album isn't subtitled yet as I moved the pictures from parazz before it shut down and haven't gotten around to adding them yet.

 

[Jazzbo]

Views of Washington from Moriah suumit

I summitted Moriah from Stony Brook Trail side last October. Views from the ledges going up were fine. Moriah has broad summit plateau and trail goes for a long time in mild ups and downs with nice views at each "up". I was wondering if I'd passed it or something until I came upon the sign for the short spur trail to the relatively small summit cone. Views towards Washington & Presis on the day I visited were dominated by the grand view of Carters. Washington is somewhat subdued and off to the side. This was later in the day at 1:00 or so when haze was starting build in. Might be more impressive earlier when sun is low and coming from the east. Anyway here's link to Webshots of my summit shots. I was focusing on Carters more than Washington.

Moriah Summit Shots

 

[MichaelJ]

Moriah's ledges have some exquisite views of the Presidentials. I think this winter view looks almost like a painting, this one a bit better. These are from some lower ledges on the Carter-Moriah Trail coming from Stony Brook.

The amazing thing about a summer morning, however, is the weather. You might be lucky enough to catch an undercast with only the Carters and the Presidentials rising above the white. I've got a panorama of that shot, too.

 

[TDawg]

I did that back in Sept. of '05 and it was gorgeous. I left Imp at 4:30 for a 6-6:30 sunrise. I had to REALLY hustle and I just barely made it before the sun peaked out. Here's the alpine glow your looking for. The southern ledges offered many views along the way.

Carters

Sunrise