Sunday, March 3
Summits: Moosilauke
Start/Finish: Moosilauke Ravine Lodge
Miles: 8.47
Elevation gain/loss: 2736′
After a smooth and warm first hike, I decided I had time to take advantage of the pristine conditions and do another summit on my way home. I changed out of my sweat soaked clothes, reset my pack, and had a snack while I drove over to the Moosilauke winter trailhead. I decided to go with a t-shirt and shorts since I’d soaked through pants. The drive up the ravine lodge road made me so very happy to have a 4WD car with high clearance – the mud ruts were 6-9″ deep and kept trying to suck my car in. I treated it like snow – making sure to accelerate enough to get through the deepest parts on momentum. I snagged an open spot right near the gate and headed out.
I carried my snowshoes, uncertain what I’d encounter but the trail was in shockingly good condition. No one was wearing snowshoes but the trail was packed down enough it had remained stable. I saw my last hikers of the day perhaps 30% of the way to the summit and they were heading down. I had the summit to myself, along with some thick clouds, but I managed to comfortably stay in a t-shirt and shorts door-to-door, which was truly strange. I made great time on my descent due to the smooth conditions, and it was a treat to finish before sunset, never requiring a headlamp for my Saturday and Sunday hikes!
