Mt. Moriah Winter Hike

We’ve not had many snowstorms so the trails are compacted with occasional ice patches. Nonetheless, higher up the trees are covered with magical frost! Rob, Dave, Jon and I wore MicroSpikes the entire day for our hike to Mt. Moriah [4049 feet].

We got an early start around 8AM and only encountered one other hiker on our ascent.  Trail conditions were decent for MicroSpikes but there were some ice flows we had to careful of and some sections of exposed rock. Hopefully it will snow again soon, about a foot and the whole trail will be good to go from now until spring.

The real fun part of this hike is from the Stony Brook / Carter - Moriah Trail junction.  The trail curves its way up to the summit over a few open ledges and a semi open alpine meadow with great views.  There was enough snow up on the ridge that almost all the roots and rocks were buried making for a pleasant hike up to the top.

We didn't stay long at the summit since it was cold and breezy. We decided to return back to the ledges for lunch and as we did so, the sun finally made an appearance. We began to get glimpses of the snowcapped Presidentials. The descent was uneventful and fun.  We ran into several people. Next time I think we’ll try using the "shortcut" from the old trailhead to change it up.

After hike, we relaxed back our house beside the fireplace and enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by Jon.

It was a glorious early morning hike up Mount Moriah in the snow! Another decent snowfall is needed but we'll take what we can get after the lack of snow over the past month.

Happy New Year!

Mike and Jon

The small rock nub of the summit of Mt. Moriah [4049’] has good views of the Presidentials, the Mahoosucs and especially the high wooded Carters!

We first hike 3.5 miles in a hardwood forest up the Stony Brook Trail to the Carter-Moriah Trail. We then have a magnificent walk along the ridge crest between the Stony Brook Trail and the summit from the ledges atop the south cliffs overlooking the Moriah Brook valley, Carter Range and the Presidentials!  We will return the way we came.

Total distance: 9.75 miles
Book Hiking Time: 6 ½ Hours
Vertical Rise: 3,100 ft.

Winter Hiking Clothing/Gear Tips and Recommendations

For winter hiking, you are basically wearing the same clothing/gear you did in summer except you need to have additional layers to keep your core body warm, dress in synthetic layers [no cotton], wool hat, and gloves [we highly recommend buying the chemical hand warmers for your gloves]. The only piece of gear you will have to buy is MicroSpikes [Kahtoola is a popular brand], which are essentially cleats that you attach to your boots to prevent falls from black ice encountered on the trail.  That being said, if we had significant snowfall just before the hike, you will need to buy/bring snowshoes! Winter hiking boots is something you may want to invest in later on, since it helps keep your feet warm, dry and comfortable.

One of the biggest mistakes beginner winter hikers do is overdress. You don’t need a heavy winter jacket since you will be heating up naturally during the hike. Wear thin, insulated layers so you can easily regulate your temperature. If you overdress, you will start sweating and actually make yourself get colder. Assess if your summer daypack is big enough to put your clothes in as you warm up and if not, then that is probably another investment you’ll have to make for this trip.

We’ll have lunch on the summit. Carry at least 2 liters of water [use hot water and place your water bottle in a thick wool sock], lunch and snacks. A small thermos of hot liquids is a welcome treat at the summit!

After the Hike: We’ll have can gather together at the Mad River Lodge [please note that’s it’s 1 ½ hour drive from the hike to our house] around the fireplace for food and drink. Bring a change of clothes and you can take a shower to clean-up. Bring your own beverages and if you like, snacks to share. If you would like to stay for one of Jon's gourmet dinners, we ask you reimburse us $10 for our food costs. 

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday and Saturday night at $25 per night. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. We have limited space in the fridge to store your beverages/food so it's best to bring a small cooler. Space is limited so email me ASAP to reserve a bunk!