Mt. Moosilauke

[Undershaft]

The sign was there but it wasnt visible in the weather.

I have sinced hiked the Moose probably 50 times or more. I used to work at Lost River Gorge and would hike beer and food up to the shelter and then hike over to Packrats to jam some guitar for the weekend, then hike back to my house in Lincoln.

I miss NH.

Yeah, looking at my photos, the sign at the intersection of the Beaver Brook trail(AT) and Benton trail is painted brown. If you were hiking with your head pointed down (likely in nasty weather) you could walk right by it. Must have been nice to work right at the base of the mountain. Moosilauke is one of my favorite summits.

[Undershaft]

My buddy did say the weather was poor, "once above treeline, enough wind to knock me off my feet twice".

I would think a GPS would be better than a map for this type of problem. I could see the AT on my GPS and it would be obvious to me in short order if I was going the wrong way. With a map, in poor visibility, I still would be guessing for awhile.

You're probably right about a GPS in situations of very poor visibility. And it does get windy up there. I've been hit by gusts in the Presidentials that slapped me and my pack down like wheat before a scythe.

[Frosty]

Your buddy was wrong, All the trails on Moosilauke are clearly marked by signs.

Yeah, I never heard of anyone ever getting lost in the Whites anywhere.

Easy to get turned around on Moosilauke. Best thing is to do what his buddy did. Turn back and make sure you're on the right trail.

Keeping going because you THINK the trail marking was clear is a great way to go down the wrong trail.

[Undershaft]

Yeah, I never heard of anyone ever getting lost in the Whites anywhere.

Easy to get turned around on Moosilauke. Best thing is to do what his buddy did. Turn back and make sure you're on the right trail.

Keeping going because you THINK the trail marking was clear is a great way to go down the wrong trail.

I disagree. The sign clearly marks the TWO trails that converge on the summit. If you can't read a sign and follow the arrows, you will get lost anywhere. The sign is even easier to read and follow now, based on the photos. The two trails are perpendicular to each other. One is clearly labeled as the AT the other is not. In order to lose the trail you have to climb over a big pile of rocks and descend steeply in a totally different direction. To stay on the AT you just keep going straight.

Yeah, people get lost in the Whites. But the intersection on the summit of Moosilauke is very easy compared to other places in the Whites. It's not like Thunderstorm Junction or Tuckerman Junction where you have five different trails radiating in five different directions. If you are heading nobo over Moosilauke, you either continue straight on the AT or you turn right ninety degrees onto the Gorge Brook trail.

[CrumbSnatcher]

Ill let you know tommorow after i go over it!

chaco i hope you have good weather thru the whites and southern maine. the descent down moosehawkie is awesome. please tell packrat hello for me. and that i'll see him next year... thanks peace

[Kirby]

I was socked in on the summit and had no trouble finding my way, but I could see how you could loose trail if you are not paying attention to the signs.

In the Whites, you need to read all trail junction signs to see which path the AT takes. There are spots where the AT makes a sharp turn while another path continues in the same general direction you are going.

Kirby

[fiddlehead]

My buddy did say the weather was poor, "once above treeline, enough wind to knock me off my feet twice".

I would think a GPS would be better than a map for this type of problem. I could see the AT on my GPS and it would be obvious to me in short order if I was going the wrong way. With a map, in poor visibility, I still would be guessing for awhile.

Correct! Here's what it looked like last time i was up there.
I knew pretty much which way to go having been there 3 or 4 times previously but it was still heavy winds and some guess work.
If you had the trail already on your GPS, it should tell you if you are going to right way or not. Even in fog and heavy wind.

Yes a map would tell you also (with your compass) but these were probably 50+ mph winds this day and i don't see how you could get your map out in that weather. Just get below treeline and hunker down and attempt to figure it out.

[Flush2wice]

This sign says "all trails go left".

[wakapak]

In NH while hiking that AT, it's best to know the names of that trails that AT takes, and to have the maps with you. if you pay attention to the names of the trails, then you won't get lost.

[Chaco Taco]

AWWWWWW YEA Baby, its on!!!!

[refreeman]

How easy it it for a NOBO to make a wrong turn after summitting Mt. Moosilauke? A buddy of mine said it wasn't well marked up there and he took the wrong path for about half a mile and had to resummit.

As a new AT hiker, a long time ago, at 2 months into a 3 month section hike I lost the trail on Mt. Moosilauke. The fog rolled in fast, and dusk fell quickly as a lightning storm blew in from the west. I just couldn't see anything anymore. I sort of slept on top of Mt. Moosilauke next to a pile of rocks, in 60 mph winds, rain and truly scary close lightning strikes. I only hoped hypothermia acted slowly as I waited shivering for dawn.

[ChinMusic]

As a new AT hiker, a long time ago, at 2 months into a 3 month section hike I lost the trail on Mt. Moosilauke. The fog rolled in fast, and dusk fell quickly as a lightning storm blew in from the west. I just couldn't see anything anymore. I sort of slept on top of Mt. Moosilauke next to a pile of rocks, in 60 mph winds, rain and truly scary close lightning strikes. I only hoped hypothermia acted slowly as I waited shivering for dawn.

Note to self: Get an EARLY start on this section.

[Pedaling Fool]

...I sort of slept on top of Mt. Moosilauke next to a pile of rocks, in 60 mph winds, rain and truly scary close lightning strikes. I only hoped hypothermia acted slowly as I waited shivering for dawn.

Did you sleep near these rocks on top of Mt Moosilauke

Also there's a pic of the trail, headed north, looks easy, but I wouldn't want to follow it in heavy fog.

And another pic of the sign.