Date of Hike: 1/25/14
Beaver Brook Trail: 7.6 miles (3, 150 feet elevation gained)
Click here for trail descriptions
Trip Report:
- My favorite trail up to the summit of Mount Moosilauke has always been the Beaver Brook trail. The first mile and a half is relentlessly steep, passes alongside beautiful cascades, and has footing similar to that found in the Northern Presidential Range.
- I've always wanted to hike it in the winter and I was excited to head up under snowy conditions and temps in the low 20's
- The advantage of hiking the Beaver Brook Trail in the winter is that all the knee hammering rocks are buried beneath the snow. The disadvantage is there are sections with ice hiding under the snow and it becomes tough to not slip back while attacking the steep sections along the cascades.
- There were some really fun sections, the rebar spot right below one of the cascades was the most fun, having to use the rebar to pull myself up, then I stood on it to reach out for a small stump, then used the stump and a tree to make it up safely.
- The cascades are all frozen over in the winter, half iced and half buried in snow. If you listen closely you can hear the water flowing underneath. I think in the spring when everything starts to melt the cascades would probably look out of this world with broken ice and a huge volumes of water flowing.
- This was the first hike where it finally felt like winter the whole way. The ice which has had a stronghold on the trails over the past month has finally (for the most part) been buried beneath the snow. All the pines were blanketed with snow and it snowed throughout the whole hike.
- Passing by the lean-to spur and the Asquam Ridge Trail junction it became colder and the snow depth increased. Luckily the last two miles to the summit is not steep and there was another group heading down so the trail was easily navigated.
- The wind did pick up as I hiked along the ridgeline around Mount Blue and I was know in the clouds so there were no views into Jobildunk Ravine.
- The trail finally breaks above treeline about three tenths of a mile from the summit. For anyone not familiar with Mount Moosilauke, it's known for the west winds that come raking across the open bald dome summit. It the winter, the winds become ferocious, giving the last section an artic blast feeling, it's invigorating...and f*ckin freezing!
- The wind was nasty (up to 30 mph) making for sub zero wind chills. It was a very short stay at the summit before reversing course and heading back into the trees and back down the mountain reaching the Jeep at 3:15 p.m. The snow was still falling and there was a fresh inch or two in the parking lot making for a great scene.
Beaver Brook Trail: 7.6 miles (3, 150 feet elevation gained)
Click here for trail descriptions
Trip Report:
- My favorite trail up to the summit of Mount Moosilauke has always been the Beaver Brook trail. The first mile and a half is relentlessly steep, passes alongside beautiful cascades, and has footing similar to that found in the Northern Presidential Range.
- I've always wanted to hike it in the winter and I was excited to head up under snowy conditions and temps in the low 20's
- The advantage of hiking the Beaver Brook Trail in the winter is that all the knee hammering rocks are buried beneath the snow. The disadvantage is there are sections with ice hiding under the snow and it becomes tough to not slip back while attacking the steep sections along the cascades.
- There were some really fun sections, the rebar spot right below one of the cascades was the most fun, having to use the rebar to pull myself up, then I stood on it to reach out for a small stump, then used the stump and a tree to make it up safely.
- The cascades are all frozen over in the winter, half iced and half buried in snow. If you listen closely you can hear the water flowing underneath. I think in the spring when everything starts to melt the cascades would probably look out of this world with broken ice and a huge volumes of water flowing.
- This was the first hike where it finally felt like winter the whole way. The ice which has had a stronghold on the trails over the past month has finally (for the most part) been buried beneath the snow. All the pines were blanketed with snow and it snowed throughout the whole hike.
- Passing by the lean-to spur and the Asquam Ridge Trail junction it became colder and the snow depth increased. Luckily the last two miles to the summit is not steep and there was another group heading down so the trail was easily navigated.
- The wind did pick up as I hiked along the ridgeline around Mount Blue and I was know in the clouds so there were no views into Jobildunk Ravine.
- The trail finally breaks above treeline about three tenths of a mile from the summit. For anyone not familiar with Mount Moosilauke, it's known for the west winds that come raking across the open bald dome summit. It the winter, the winds become ferocious, giving the last section an artic blast feeling, it's invigorating...and f*ckin freezing!
- The wind was nasty (up to 30 mph) making for sub zero wind chills. It was a very short stay at the summit before reversing course and heading back into the trees and back down the mountain reaching the Jeep at 3:15 p.m. The snow was still falling and there was a fresh inch or two in the parking lot making for a great scene.
Lower end of the Beaver Brook Cascades
Middle of the cascades
Asquam Ridge Trail junction
Ice bulge!
Untouched snow!
Above treeline, I can see two cairns ahead!
That is the summit!
Mount Moosilauke Summit
Beaver Brook Foot Bridge
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