WildPeaks
New member
For a change, I was way ahead of schedule due to the location of the Mountain. 
I decided to make a pit stop a few miles in on rt. 118 when my right front tire sunk 2 feet in a snow covered shoulder I threw the truck into 4 wheel drive & thought no problem. WRONG! It got worse. Now both right tires were buried. I started to think "I won't be summiting today". I slowed my mind down, "climbed" out & figured out that if I could back my rear quarter into the snow bank, I might get the front tire angled enough to climb back onto the hot top & out I would go. After several tries & a lot of nasty metal to ice grinding sounds, it worked!!!!!! Yes. But my poor truck. I still thought, "at least I can climb today". I'll worry about the damage later.
So............ Now the trip.
I was still early. My brother Ron & 3 of his friends, John, Jonathan, & Norman, finally showed up (right on time) & off we went. It was a cold (10 degrees) with some wind, but sunny day. We reached the trailhead (Gorge Brook) after a nice walk up the road. The trail was mixed with some packed areas as well as some new fallen snow (2") & wind blown (filled in) spots. As we went, I tried to remember my last trip up that trail about 11 yrs. ago. Mostly nice memories, until we came to the spot at treeline were myself & two others guys were forced to turn back due to a pulled or torn muscle in one guys leg. He said no way he could go any more, but would wait while me & the other guy summited. It was howling up there & snowing. I geared up, but the other guy said no way, so down we went.
What a joy walking past that area, turning, and seeing the top.
It was gorgeous!!! Worth the wait, I think. We wouldn't have had a treat like that view, back then.
Up we went. Had to take the snowshoes off. Too rocky. We couldn't stay at the top too long, due to the wind & cold, but we did come back down a litle way & took a break. My brother told me this (Moosilauke) was all he wanted for his birthday present. Nice gift!
So.......... After a very short discussion, we all decided to go over to the South Summit. What a nice jaunt that was. Nice views all over, but the one that caught me the most, was when we turned arround and looked at Moosilauke. Stunning!
We met 2 guys (the only others we saw on the trails) at the intersection just below South Summit heading for Moosilauke. Then we headed up, what seemed like a tunnel at first, to the top. It was just as windy & cold on the South Summit, but we stayed for a bit anyway. As all trips, it was time to head back down.
We went down the Carriage Rd. to the Snapper Trail. We all had to put on the snowshoes for that one. And not too much later, it seemed, we were back to the Trailhead. On the way out we passed a couple on the road, out for a quick late day walk.
Back at the parking area, we were all treated to some slightly warm chili. (compliments of Jonathan) And after the goodbyes, off I went. Another great day in the Whites!
Tom
I decided to make a pit stop a few miles in on rt. 118 when my right front tire sunk 2 feet in a snow covered shoulder I threw the truck into 4 wheel drive & thought no problem. WRONG! It got worse. Now both right tires were buried. I started to think "I won't be summiting today". I slowed my mind down, "climbed" out & figured out that if I could back my rear quarter into the snow bank, I might get the front tire angled enough to climb back onto the hot top & out I would go. After several tries & a lot of nasty metal to ice grinding sounds, it worked!!!!!! Yes. But my poor truck. I still thought, "at least I can climb today". I'll worry about the damage later.So............ Now the trip.
I was still early. My brother Ron & 3 of his friends, John, Jonathan, & Norman, finally showed up (right on time) & off we went. It was a cold (10 degrees) with some wind, but sunny day. We reached the trailhead (Gorge Brook) after a nice walk up the road. The trail was mixed with some packed areas as well as some new fallen snow (2") & wind blown (filled in) spots. As we went, I tried to remember my last trip up that trail about 11 yrs. ago. Mostly nice memories, until we came to the spot at treeline were myself & two others guys were forced to turn back due to a pulled or torn muscle in one guys leg. He said no way he could go any more, but would wait while me & the other guy summited. It was howling up there & snowing. I geared up, but the other guy said no way, so down we went.
What a joy walking past that area, turning, and seeing the top.
It was gorgeous!!! Worth the wait, I think. We wouldn't have had a treat like that view, back then.
Up we went. Had to take the snowshoes off. Too rocky. We couldn't stay at the top too long, due to the wind & cold, but we did come back down a litle way & took a break. My brother told me this (Moosilauke) was all he wanted for his birthday present.
Nice gift!So.......... After a very short discussion, we all decided to go over to the South Summit. What a nice jaunt that was. Nice views all over, but the one that caught me the most, was when we turned arround and looked at Moosilauke. Stunning!
We met 2 guys (the only others we saw on the trails) at the intersection just below South Summit heading for Moosilauke. Then we headed up, what seemed like a tunnel at first, to the top. It was just as windy & cold on the South Summit, but we stayed for a bit anyway. As all trips, it was time to head back down.
We went down the Carriage Rd. to the Snapper Trail. We all had to put on the snowshoes for that one. And not too much later, it seemed, we were back to the Trailhead. On the way out we passed a couple on the road, out for a quick late day walk.
Back at the parking area, we were all treated to some slightly warm chili.
(compliments of Jonathan) And after the goodbyes, off I went. Another great day in the Whites!Tom
