Mt. Moosilauke - 4/29/09

Moosilauke was another one of the places I had really been wanting to get back out to. I have a great view of it from many of the hotel rooms at work and always find myself looking at it, vowing to get up there soon. This was the day. It was gorgeous and fairly warm, so I set off for Ravine Lodge Road. To my delight and surprise the gate was open and I didn’t have to hike up the road like I was planning. I was already off to a good start. The Gorge Brook Trail being the chosen route of the climb up. What a pleasant walk it was!

Lovely, open section of the Gorge Brook trail

It never really seems to have any long sections of climbing and travels through some lovely forest and has some nice viewpoints along the way. It almost feels like cheating. This probably explains why it’s the most popular summertime path on “The Moose”. Before you know it, the trees are getting smaller and you pass an area with a great view back down to the Ravine Lodge.

Looking down on the Ravine Lodge

Right after passing this you emerge from the trees with the broad dome of the summit ahead. This summit is broad and rocky , but is also blanketed in an expansive alpine meadow and is one of the windiest spots I've encountered in the whites.

Approaching the broad, dome-shaped summit

The 360 degree views are seemingly endless, with as far as Canada and as close as Lincoln all visible from the same spot.

View over Lincoln toward the Franconia Range, Pemi Wilderness, and Mt. Washington

This mountain also has a long history. Including the Carriage Road, the hotel that once stood at the summit, and the nation’s first downhill ski race was held here back in 1927.

The remains of the foundation where the summit hotel once stood

After a quick bite to eat behind one the wind shelters, and a marathon picture-snapping session, I set off toward the South Peak, a spot I had yet to visit in my travels but had heard much about.

The South Peak seen from the main summit

After a nice walk along the ridge, with many interesting views off to either side, I arrived at the spur path leading up to the southerly knob and after a quick climb up I was admiring the sights.

The main summit seen from the South Peak

In addition to fine panoramic views, this peak also offers another perspective of the main peak and a great bird’s-eye-view of Tunnel Brook Notch, it also feels a bit more remote than the main peak. A great side trip.

View from South Peak; Looking down into Tunnel Brook Notch, Black Mountain behind on the center-right

Before long I was back down and on the Carriage Road, which was also an interesting trail. I was imagining horse-drawn carriages, not to mention Model-T Fords, going over it in years past. Shortly I arrived at the Snapper Trail, which also didn’t have a sign at the junction and, having had much less traffic, barely felt like a trail at times. I highly enjoyed the slightly more “wild” feel of this route. Not long after I arrived back at the Ravine Lodge and looking back on a great day.