| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Moosilauke, Mt. Moosilauke - South Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gorge Brook Trail, abandoned Gorge Brook Slide Trail, Carriage Road, South Peak Spur, bushwhack, Snapper Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 24, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We parked roadside near the fork at 8:30-8:45am. Plenty of room. Ravine Lodge Rd is in fine shape for low clearance cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I don't believe there were any that weren't bridged on trail. Water wasn't very high anyway. Note that some of the bridges on Gorge Brook Trail aren't closed in on both sides so may unnerve some people. We did have to cross Gorge Brook here which was rock hopable though we did look for an easy place to cross. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
I believe all trails were blazed in blue except for Carriage Rd Trail which is blazed in white where it coincides with the AT between Glencliff Trail and the summit. I'm not sure if it was blazed below this jct either. I'm not sure if the spur to South Peak was blazed either but Gorge Brook and Snapper I'm pretty sure were both blazed in blue and the blazing was fresh and at least somewhat regular I think. I do not recall any blowdowns and all train signs were intact.
A no good, good for nuthin', lazy slacker reunion hike!! And this time, we had the pleasure of the CCC joining us as well! The objective was to find and follow the abandoned Gorge Brook Slide Trail as the Old Man and the Saw wanted a redo after a botched attempt a month or two ago. Lucky for us, we were successful this time!
Gorge Brook Trail was wet and muddy at times but nothing terribly excessive. We left the trail at the Ross McKenney Rock where the old trail jct was. Some of us saw and followed a "herd path" here but my eyes didn't see jack and we soon crossed Gorge Brook. The tendency was to head straight up (NW) but I had a rough bearing based on where I dropped pins from an old map (see the link below and consider this a very rough approximation) that said to head more due west and not gain immediately. We walked around for a bit in open woods and I soon found a rocky chute that looked as if it could be the taillings of the slide. We began following it and sure enough it was it! This rocky drainage/chute was not terribly wet or treacherous but was very steep and featured just a bit of loose rock. I don't recall exactly how long we were on this for but it led us right to the revegetating slide. We came to wet slab immediately but slab is very short and easy to go around. All in all, I wouldn't consider this to be very treacherous. And you've got plenty of woods to go into if you should so choose as well. Higher up the slide became more like loose gravel and was easier to climb. A few other things to note about the slide: we found only one double blaze and only a few cairns. There is a more obvious herd path at times at the bottom of the slide and through the brush but all in all it's just a "stick to the slide" route and not in any way marked anymore as I had the vague impression it still was. Still not a bad bushwhack or slide for those beginning to tackle such things though.
There's a clear herd path exiting the slide that you can easily follow for a short ways but it soon disappears. Worry not though as the woods are open and you aren't terribly far from the ridgeline. Once we lost the trail, we never really found it again (although an active effort was made) though JUST before reaching the Carriage Rd we came upon a pile of rocks. From this pile of rocks, there's no clear path the remaining 15 ft to the Carriage Rd BUT after hitting the Carriage Rd, we noted, just ahead of where we popped out, a path leading into the woods that lead right to this pile of rocks. Old Man and the Saw, having hiked this trail when it was open about 50 years ago, seemed to think this was where the old trail met the Carriage Rd.
Nice walk along the Carriage Rd from here to the summit and the CCC and I did a quick OAB to the summit of South Peak while there; for those who've bushwhacked Clough, there's obviously a nice perspective of the peak and some of the common "whacking routes" to get to that summit from South Peak Such nice grades if rocky at times along the Carriage Rd. Great to be back on the summit of another NH4K with great views even if they were rather muted from the cloud. Windy and not too warm on the summit but we stayed warm enough in one of the rock piles and stayed quite awhile, exploring the summit area for a bit. On the way down, we followed the Carriage Rd down for almost 2mi to where it heads due south toward Snapper Trail to begin a shortcut bushwhack, passing the old springs used for horses (4050ft) about 1 1/3mi below the summit just below the old Widhu shelter (I believe this is also where the old Hell's Highway Ski Trail met the Carriage Rd) which is just below where we popped out onto the trail from the abandoned trail (4200ft) earlier. Thanks to the Old Man and the Saw for all the great history lessons!
The shorcut whack began at 3600ft and ends at 3150ft, 0.4mi east of where Snapper Trail meets the Carriage Rd, and 0.7mi from where we left Carriage Rd so it cuts off 0.7mi of trail with 0.2mi steep but open whack. The whack passes by some minor blowdowns. Stick right and you'll pass two shelves/flat areas, the second of which is just before reaching the trail. Footing isn't too bad. Easy walk from there back to the car. A HUGE congratulations to the CCC on her first big whack/abandoned trail day! And with two lazy slackers no less! Living up to our names, we had her lead the shortcut bushwhack and parts of the abandoned Gorge Brook Slide whack; she was a natural! Gaia had us at almost 8mi and nearly 2500ft of gain.
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney, the CCC, and the Old Man and the Saw |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-09-25 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/losthikingtrails/viewtrail.php?id=5 |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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