Outdoor Diversion: Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad on Moosilauke

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad on Moosilauke

Summit: Mount Moosilauke (4,802')

Trail route: Ravine Lodge Road, Gorge Brook Trail

Trail conditions: Dry with a few wet and muddy areas

Weather: Cool, cloudy, summit cloud covered and windy

Total miles: 8.5

Total time: 4:40

The weather forecast was not looking great for today but good enough to squeeze in a hike before possible rain. I needed Mount Moosilauke for September and it is a relatively short hike up the Gorge Brook Trail although one of the longer drives to a trailhead for me. I was hoping for no crowds, no clouds and no rain today.

It has been awhile since I have hiked up Gorge Brook when the upper gate to Ravine Lodge was open. I had forgotten that you can park along the road below the fork in the road just before the lodge so I ended up parking at the hiking parking area at the gate. I saw cars go by me and thought they were going to the Lodge. I thought it was rather odd that I was the only one at the parking area for this very popular hike. Sure enough, hikers were parking further up the road. This added six tenths of a mile each way making the total hiking distance just over eight miles round trip.

I passed some hikers and there were hikers that passed me along the trail. About half way up the wind started to pick up and I knew it would be howling at the summit. Before emerging from the treeline into the exposed area below the summit I layered up with rain jacket, hat and gloves. As expected it was very windy at the top although I have been up here when it was windier and much colder. A cloud layer consumed the summit and there were no views. It was definitely not a day for lingering and basking on the summit. There was no crowd while I was there.

I started my descent and removed a layer, gloves and hat when I got back below treeline. As I was heading down I met a photographer, Peter Gumaskas, using a 100-year old camera. We talked for awhile and he let me get a photo of him and his camera. In return I agreed to give his website a shout-out, petergumaskas.com.

I continued my descent as a steady stream of hikers were coming up. It was a pleasant hike down. Back on the road walk there was a long line of cars parked beside the road on my way to the lower parking area. There was just my truck and one other vehicle parked there. I guess I wasn't the only one that didn't get the memo.

At the start of the hike I was hoping for no crowds on the summit, no rain during the entire hike and no clouds obscuring the views. I figured two out of three ain't bad and I've already seen the views on several previous hikes to this summit.

I now have two more hikes to grid out September. I'll be hoping for better weather than what I experienced today.

Enjoy the photos and video!