Sunday, January 08, 2017

#23 Moosilauke w Steve H and Mark P

7:59 AM on Sunday, January 8, 2017

Mark made the drive up in the wee hours after the storm and met us at the Notch Hostel. Steve guided us up his favorite trail, Glencliff, to the summit of Moosilauke and made believers of us. The day was way cold (below 0F) and super clear, providing great 360-degree views from the top. It was also very windy (>30mph) so exposed skin froze quickly and I didn't dare leave my gloves off to take many photos.

Stats:

  • Peaks: Mt Moosilauke
  • Weather: Clear and cold. -6F at summit and windy (30+ mph)
  • Parked: lot on High St (just past Long Pond Rd) in Benton, NH
  • Trails: Glenncliff Tr, Carriage Rd, and back
  • Time: 3h58m, 7:59am-11:57pm
  • Distance: 7.3mi
  • Track: GaiaGps
An overview of my Single Season Winter 48 with links to all the trip reports is here.


Mark before the -6F and 20+ mph chill on the summit.




Bluebird day on the Moose.


Steve on top, admiring Franconia Ridge in the mid-distance and the Presies in the back.



Barely managed a summit photo. Three quick snaps and my fingers were numb for thirty minutes. I noticed a white spot on Mark's cheek, so he covered his face to prevent frostbite; that's why he looks like Kylo Ren here.





Mt Moosilaukee just after Glencliff Trail and Carriage Rd junction. Beautiful, but bitterly cold. Brrrr!


After the hike, after the drive home, after the unpacking... comes the apres-hike ale.

...People we met on the trail. 

Near the top we met a couple of guys in their 20's. On the way down we all hung out at the junction of Glencliff and Carriage Rd for awhile and shared their cheese and sausage--a wilderness charcuterie. It was the first winter hike for one of them, so he picked our brains about equipment.

Coming down the trail, I met John and Pepper on their way up. I almost gave him a big hug, I was in such a good mood from an excellent Moosilauke hike and I enjoyed chatting and hiking with him so much on Jefferson the day before. 

There was also a large group of Dartmouth students climbing up. When we got to the parking lot, Mark was able to rescue their youthful drivers. They couldn't start the mini bus. Mark wiggled the locked steering wheel and the motor fired right up. 

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