| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Shelburne Moriah Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rattle River Trail, Kenduskeag Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 7, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plowed, yay! |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The two Rattle River crossings aren't completely frozen over but with careful stepping, they were doable (and I'm a water crossing wuss). |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One major blowdown about 4 miles up the Rattle River Trail almost claimed my left snowshoe and right leg. It's tricky because the bypass options are steep. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
My dog did well but your mileage may vary. Some ledge scrambles are difficult because the snow is deep enough to be a problem but not a height help. A few are icy. The water crossings aren't completely frozen which can pose a canine challenge in these temps. |
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 | Bugs: |
I saw one trail spider. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
The mentioned blowdown tree has someone's blue topped Nalgene frozen into the mess. I tried to free it but could not. |
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 | Comments: |
I didn't see a single person all day and tracks stopped at the first Rattle Rover crossing, so Buttercup and I broke our way to the summit as best we could. The snow before the elevation gain started in earnest could be bare booted. After the shelter I tried my snowshoes and found that the trail was so bony under a few inches, that it was more hazard than it was a help. It was in that awkward state of being enough snow to conceal hazards but not enough to help buffer them. The snow was all a light, unconsolidated powder, only varying in depth throughout the hike. Once the elevation started, the snow depth increased and snowshoes helped. Roughly .2mi before the Kenduskeag Trail, snowshoes became a necessity. Most of the depth on Kenduskeag was calf-to-knee deep and very loose, with many deeper surprise drifts and small spruce traps. Kenduskeag Trail is often narrow with the trees full of snow today. The boardwalks were covered enough to be invisible but dangerous. There were a small number of short icy scramble sections that were doable. This hike was no joke- I found it far more challenging than many winter 4Ks I have done. |
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 | Name: |
MJo |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-12-07 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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