Gridding Out Mount Moriah

Summit: Mount Moriah (4,049')

Trail route: Stony Brook Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail

Trail conditions: Solid base with some fresh snow on top

Weather: Partly cloudy to start to full sunshine and blue sky

Total miles: 10

Total time:  6:00

After several days of cold temps and frigid wind chills it looked like today would be quite tolerable for a hike to Mount Moriah via Stony Brook Trail. I would be joining Jill, Jim, Scott and Lisa. Recent trail reports looked like the trails were well broke out.

I would be gridding out this summit today which means I have hiked to Mount Moriah in every month of the year. Jill was also gridding out Moriah today. That's hiking to this mountain summit in every kind of weather and trail conditions.

Our first decision this morning was whether or not to take the snowshoes. We decided to take them in case high winds had covered the trail up on the ridge. We started out in microspikes which turned out to be a good choice. The trail was firmly packed and frozen solid.

We got to the ridge and there was a layer of loose snow that was broke out on a firmly packed base. It was a nice hike up over the snowy ledges with spectacular views. The microspikes continued to work well and the snowshoes stayed on our backs for the entire hike. The trees were heavily coated in snow and we were ducking, dodging and moving through branches. There is a lot of snow up here!

Met Nate and his dog Piper coming down from the summit as we were going up. I have met them on several previous hikes in the past. We got to the trail junction and went up the last steep pitch to the summit. This vertical ledge was much easier to go up with snow on it.

We reached the summit and momentarily had it to ourselves. There were beautiful views in all directions. It wasn't long before the gray jays arrived looking for a handout. More hikers also soon arrived. We decided to move on down the trail before eating lunch.

We started our descent and had in mind a small spur trail that led to a sunny spot where we would eat lunch. Along the way there were more hikers coming up. We arrived at our lunch spot and took a nice break in the full sunshine. 

After the break we continued our descent. It was a great hike down and a perfect winter day for gridding out Mount Moriah!

Enjoy the photos and video!

Mount Moriah via Stony Brook Trail

The hike starts here

Jim and Scott checking out the snow bridge

Easy under blowdown but watch your head

Heading up to that snowy wilderness

A view from the edge of the first ledge

A view of the northern Presis

Lisa and Scott enjoying the view

Heading up another ledge

Jill in the sweep position

View of the Baldfaces

Another ledge view

Getting into snow laden trees

White below and blue above

Zooming into the summit of Mount Moriah

Scott about to disappear into the snowy forest

Scott breaks out into the open

Jill passing through the land of snow creatures

Jim happy to be almost on the summit

Lisa, Scott and Jim on the last steep pitch to the summit

Jill coming up the steep ledge just before the summit

Deep snow just before the summit

Looking down into the snowy forest we just passed through

Ice globs on a spruce tree

Presidential summits

A view of Shelburne-Moriah Mountain

Gray jay waiting for a handout

Jim's head on a blowdown

Passing through open terrain

Descending the ledges

Icy spruce

Back at the trailhead after 10 miles in 6 hours

Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!