Moriah and Shelburne Moriah Mts. 8/7/10

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"MUDing and PUDing, a Kenduskeag Scalping!"

We parked at the Wild River campground ready for another long Saturday hike. Shelburne-Moriah and Moriah Mountains were the objectives today and the crisp, dry air were just what we had hoped for! We left the parking lot at 8:00am and walked back down the road to take Shelburne trail from it's start. Though the water level was relatively low the crossing proved difficult. We had to go upstream a ways to find a good crossing. Once across, a dried up river bed tempted me to take that to High Water trail that follows the river. We came to a stream instead of a trail. So I pulled out my map and found that the trail is actually further away from the Wild River in this area than I had thought. First of two mistakes made and not wanting to take a chance on following the stream and not finding the trail, we back tracked back to and down the Wild River to the Kenduskeag trail and began our long journey.

We crossed several dry river beds and flowing streams, climbed a banking and passed the High Water trail junctions. From here the trail is rather boring. Mushroom hunting helped to pass the time. The trail is very gradual and overgrown in many sections. I stopped to clear a blowdown about a mile in. Otherwise, the blowdowns were taken care of, just some shrub growth beginning to take over the little used trail. Once you reach the brook crossing (approximately 1700ft.), the trail climbs steeply. Along our steep climb we could here some birds chirping. I was startled when I heard Scott ahead let out a scared yelp. I looked up in time to see a goss hawk nearly a foot away from scalping Scott. His yell scared it back and it flew around me and onto a branch 15 ft. away. It glared at us then flew off out of sight. Apparently that chirping was a nearby nest! We cautiously made our way out of that area, not waiting for it to come back out of the trees for another attack!

Neary 4 miles and 1700 feet of elevation behind us we finally arrived at the Kenduskeag trail. The steep climb continued before leveling off under some ledges then a ledge on the left that we could climb to get our first views of the day. Shelburne-Moriah Mt. rose steeply ahead of us. Moriah could be seen as well as most of the Carter's and the Baldface's. We returned to the trail, dropped slightly then climbed through brush and a bad washout at a ladder and up to an open knob with more views. A board walk started here which helped through the muddy sections. Down another col. than another steep climb up Shelburne Mt. We climbed out of the tree's to an open plateau, then back into trees and onto boardwalks and mud to the Western, more open side of the mountain and it's highest point.

We reached Shelburn-Moriah's summit 3735' at 12:15pm. Picture taken we hit the trail again, the semi-open ridge and Mt. Moriah ahead of us, with the Northern Presidentials now looming behind Moriah. We climbed down the summit to the ridge and found a spot with a little less wind. Temps. were only in the mid-50's and the wind hitting our sweaty bodies was a bit cold when not moving. Lunch quickly eaten we continued on our journey. Kenduskeag is the Abenaki word meaning 'pleasant walk', but it was anything but. The views from the Western side were nice. Particularly the unique view across to the Baldfaces, the granite bald shoulder of South peak shining in the sun. And the view of Moriah from this direction interesting, especially of the granite slide on Moriah's North East facing slope. And I never seen such an extensive sections of boardwalks. They must be over a mile in total length!

From here pretty much the same story the rest of the way to Moriah's summit. PUDS, Mud, boardwalks, back into trees and then steep, steep, steep. Once passed the Rattle River trail we began to see people as I had predicted. One impartcular gave us a good laugh. Scott stopped because he had heard a noise. A small dog came around the corner and began yipping. The owner yelled "shut up Jake!". He stated the dog owners usual words "he's OK" to us, then picked it by the handle of the dogs pack and carried him by us. It was rather humorous. We had just about ran out of energy when we finally made it to the summit sign and reached the surprisingly empty summit 4049' at 2:15pm. We snapped some pics, had a snack and took back off, many more miles to go and the day getting late.

It was at this time I made mistake number 2 of the day. When coming down off the summit, I took a left at the carter-moriah trail sign. We dropped nearly 200 feet before I had a feeling that something wasn't right. We should not have dropped this quickly and there were no open ledges I remember from our hike in 2007. And I was certain the trail we took up our last Moriah hike over Mt. Surprise was Carter-Moriah trail. So I once again took the map out, and lo and behold we were headed the wrong way, rrrrr! We angrily trudged back up the steep trail, passing those we saw going up, who looked at us confused. Wiped out now, we arrived back to the summit sign. As we passed it a hiker said, "aren't you going to the summit? It's that way!" We said we were already there but went down the wrong way. He laughed and said "that happens", he himself had gone right by the summit sign and that is why he was making sure to point it out to us.

We climbed down the steep section back to the kenduskeag junction and continued on the Carter-Moriah trail. Passed by many other people, again expected on this portion of the mountain, and as we arrived at the ledges we looked back at the now visible summit full of people. The rest of the trip went well. 5 long miles of Moriah Brook trail, but this trail is always a pleasure. Easy, soft footing most of the way and a beautiful, cascading Moriah brook. The water was low so the cascades along the way weren't much and since it was getting late in the day I didn't make many stops or side trips for pictures. We hussled down, making our way to the gorge and the PUD section of trail up and down small run-off stream gully's. Finally over the bridge and a final climb up a banking. We reached home plate at 6:00pm.

Total trip time 10hrs.; 15 miles; 2800 ft. elevation; weather-perfect! NO BUGS !!!! : )

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South Baldface 7/3/10

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Happy 4th of July! We did South Baldface back on April 4th with plenty of snow still left and we have been wanting to see this magnificent granite batholith without snow cover. With the beautiful holiday weekend sure to bring thousands to the Conway's, the presidential range and the notches I decided to head to the more quite area's along Rt. 113 bordering NH and ME. So off we went for an early start.

We arrived at the Baldface parking lot, half full of what I presumed was campers and maybe a couple early birds. We had BOT (boots on trail) at 8:30am on this lovely morning, the trail very quite and peaceful. Mushrooms have begun to make their appearance much to my excitement and the frequent stops to snap a shot made this first stretch go by quick. We even stumbled across some unusual wild flower that I have yet to identify that was 20 ft. off the trail growing around an open mossy area (picture to right >)

We broke left at the Emerald pool junction (we remember the sign missing back in April and now a temporary paper sign marks the trails at this junction). Next down a little ways we broke right at the Slippery brook junction. The clouds now dissipated and the heat beginning to settle in. We climbed moderately, the trail rarely making any steep pitches and arrived at the boulder field just before reaching the Baldface shelter. We new in just a few more minutes we would break tree line to our first granite slab and views out to the North and West. Here we had a much anticipated snack and my new favorite hiking companion Coconut-Mandarin water, mmm! As we relaxed and took in our first views we could here what sounded like a large group stopping for lunch a few hundred yards back down at the shelter. We packed up and began the steep climb hoping to stay ahead of the crowd!

The trail really takes an opposite approach now from the previous easy-going climb, and tackles the open granite slabs of South Baldface's North West side. Slabs are 6 feet high or-so in spots requiring some climbing and scrambling. The Blueberry bushes sporting a few ripe berries as they mingle with the other outcrop plants in the cracks and crevices of the granite. This area is so amazing and awe inspiring. The kind of place where you just have to think, "a God of some kind had to create this!" We made our way to the top of a plateau area overlooking the deep ravine over to North Baldface and Eagle Crag and South Baldface's true summit 3/4 of a mile away. We climbed to the top of the knob marked by an interesting cairn, alpine grasses all around and yep, more granite!

We relaxed a bit here, resting on the many natural granite benches that workers hoisted up onto rock piles. Little, bright yellow butterflies with thin red outlines were everywhere. A half mile to go we began the final ascent. Looking back often at the sweeping views and watching as the massive group behind us popped out onto the ridge and knob areas. We must have counted at least 30 hikers! We reached the top at 12:30pm and walked around until we found a nice secluded spot down on the Southern side of the summit overlooking Mt. Washington. Too hot and tired to tackle the North peak today we pulled our boots and socks off and enjoyed the nice breeze as we had our lunch and other goodies. Views today were magnificent with so many peaks visible, to name a few: Kearsarge North, Chocorua, White Horse Ledge and the Moats, the Tripyramids, Carrigain, the Southern Presi's and Washington, and most of the Wildcat-Carter-Moriah range.

Once we had our fill we packed up and headed back up the summit where the last of the giant group was passing by onto the North peak. We passed a few people down until we got back to the knob where we headed South to Baldface knob and Slippery Brook trail. The view of South Baldface from Baldface Knob all the more impressive with a large granite wall that was plucked out from the glaciers. The trails over here much less traveled evident by the overgrown trail and frequent moose droppings. We met one lady at the slippery brook junction as we headed down this trail and back out to the loop trail were we passed several teens and a couple families, by the looks, headed for emerald pool. We happily arrived back at the now over flowed parking lot at 3:30pm where we quickly changed shirts, threw our bare feet in some sandals and took off with the wind blowing in the windows, ahhh!

This hike is so beautiful. Perfect weather, a little muggy, hardly a bug and is one of the most spectacular peaks in the WMNF. It is a technical hike and those who are not comfortable with some minor climbing and heights may have a hard time. I plan to get an early start on this massive ridge in the fall when it is cooler and hope to do the whole loop.

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