South and Middle Moat Mountains 6/12/10

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Carter Notch from Middle Moat Mountain

South Moat 2749' and Middle Moat Mountains 2805'

Moat Mountain Trail

6.6 Miles 2350' Elevation gain

Kevin, Judy and Emma

I messed this one up because we were supposed to hike with friends who had suggested it, but I never let them know we would be there. With our home situation the way it is, it is hard to commit. We have to play things day by day. I thought we would just catch them at the trailhead, my bad. It's too bad we didn't get to hike together, but we did cross paths as we were descending and they were still hiking up. Emma got to make a new canine friend when she met their very good looking 3 year old. He was very well behaved, what a sweetheart!

Jude took this shot of Emma on Middle Moat Mountain

The weather forecast was for rain that afternoon, but we got what seemed to be the prelude in the way of a steady drizzle that barely wet things, but made the air very heavy. The blackflies seemed to thrive on this and took full advantage of the season's bounty in the form of our flesh. When it gets to the point where you're just wiping them off of you, they're pretty thick. Maybe it's just the places we are visiting this year, but they seem much worse than last year when we had surprisingly little problem with them in June. I think this is a more typical year than last.

Chocorua

Although the visibility was limited to about 15 miles there were excellent views of what was still visible. I love it when the atmospheric conditions create all these little clouds in the valleys below the mountains and they just rise up the slopes and surround the mountaintops. The view is constantly changing. Walking in the clouds has great healing powers for the mind, body and soul. Emma stops on a rock and closes her eyes. There's no place she'd rather be than on a mountaintop with mommy and daddy. She eats every morsel of food we brought for her, and then some. It's her reward for being such a good hiking companion all these years.

Southwest towards Passaconaway and the Tripyramids

Our hikes are shorter and don't climb quite so high now. She is feeling it. She has eclipsed us both in dog years now. It's really hard to think about. I don't want these days to ever end...

Best Girl

Full set of pics here:
KDT

 

[Jimmy Legs and Little D]

Kevin,
Glad that you finally had the opportunity to check out the Moats. I never thought the views would be so fantastic with North Conway in the distance.
The smaller mountains are definitely worthwhile.
You can have the blackflies If we lived in NH, we'd be on a hiking hiatus right about now.

Donna