Summit: Mount Moriah (4,049')
Trail route: Carter-Moriah Trail
Trail conditions: Wet, muddy
Weather: Cool and humid to start with some fog, hot and humid to finish with sunshine
Total miles: 9
Total time: 6:10
There was heat and humidity in the forecast. These conditions were expected to last through the weekend and into next week so I definitely wanted to get a hike in today. I am very intolerant of this kind of weather and it prompted me to get an early start.
I was the first one to arrive at the parking area this morning. I was on the trail at 5:20 AM. It was a foggy drive on the way here and there was a slight fog in the woods. The trail was wet and the trees were dripping from yesterday's rain so it was a muggy start. There were a few mosquitoes and black flies but not enough of a bother to use bug spray.
Not quite a mile up the trail I noticed recent logging operations. I would get a better idea of the extent of the clearcutting on my way back down as it was rather foggy through here. Coming up to the ledges I used some extra caution due to the wet granite. Up on the higher ledges of the trail there was a good view of the undercast below which was keeping the valley in the fog.
No other hikers passed me on the way up so I was the first and only one on the summit. There was just a slight breeze under the hot sun. I sat there and let the sweat evaporate off of me and changed into a dry shirt which felt much better. I had something to eat and took some photos then was soon on my way back down knowing it was only going to get hotter.
I passed four hikers coming up as I went down. When I reached the clearcut I left the trail and did a little exploring. This area does not even look familiar to me with the large area of trees that are now gone. There is the usual slash from a logging operation that has been left behind. About the only "positive" aspect of this logging is that it has opened up some views that I hadn't seen before.
I was back down at the trailhead before noon and the only thing that was on my mind was to cool off. I drove the few minutes to the Stony Brook trailhead parking, went down to the brook and walked in. The cool water felt great!
The humidity exceeded my comfort level today and I was glad to have completed this hike. With more of this weather on the way I'm not sure how soon I'll be venturing out on the hiking trails again.
Enjoy the photos and videos!
The hike starts here at 5:20 AM
Recent logging that I haven't seen before in past hikes to this summit
Logging slash
Sun coming up
Getting above the morning fog
Logging opened up new views along the trail
Big burl
Trailside mushrooms
Sheep laurel
Sheep laurel amongst reindeer lichen
Walk around blowdown
Adams and Madison between the trees
Undercast below
Wet ledges from recent rain
View from the ledges
Presidential summits
More undercast
Opening through overturned tree routes
Bump on a log
Muddy start to get to the bog bridges
Bog bridges were much needed through this section
Spider web just off the trail
Easy under blowdown
Almost at the summit
On the summit
Shelburne Moriah Mountain
Southern view
Mount Washington
Mount Jefferson
Mount Adams
Mount Madison
Lingering undercast
The Carters
Clouds are forming
Descending
Bunchberry blooming
Back across the bog bridges
Down over the ledges
Reindeer lichen
Clouds forming over the Presidential summits
Gonna need a new blaze tree
Passing through the logging clearcut
New views have opened up along the trail
An open view to Gorham
Trailhead is in sight
Mount Moriah after the hike
Cooling off the feet in Stony Brook and it felt great!
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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