LosingFifty
New member
Date(s) Hiked: 10/16/2009
Trails(s) Hiked: Benton
Total Distance: 7.2 miles, 3,100 vertical feet
Difficulty: Moderate - Strenuous
Conditions: Muddy spots close to the trailhead, turning to frozen ground, ice, and snow with ascent
Special Required Equipment: None, but gaiters would have been nice.
Trip Report: I completed a 7.2 mile, 5 hour hike, ascending to the summit of Mt. Moosilauke via the Benton Trail. Benton is a moderately steep trail, ascending via a ridge on the north side of the mountain. The trail started as a typical fall hike, but turned to a winter hike with increasing amounts of snow during the ascent. There's a decent sized stream to cross about a tenth or two in - be careful of your footing. The snow on the trail was rarely more than an inch or two, and mostly packed by other hikers. Ice had formed in several places on the narrow trail, requiring common sense foot placement. There's a beautiful overlook into Little Tunnel Ravine about a third of the way up. Many pine boughs were snow-laden and encroached on the trail. I picked up a good bit of snow in the mesh pockets on my pack and in my shell's hood from brushing by the boughs on my way through.
The summit was windy and frigid, and although overcast, provided good views in all directions.
More details on my blog here.
Trails(s) Hiked: Benton
Total Distance: 7.2 miles, 3,100 vertical feet
Difficulty: Moderate - Strenuous
Conditions: Muddy spots close to the trailhead, turning to frozen ground, ice, and snow with ascent
Special Required Equipment: None, but gaiters would have been nice.
Trip Report: I completed a 7.2 mile, 5 hour hike, ascending to the summit of Mt. Moosilauke via the Benton Trail. Benton is a moderately steep trail, ascending via a ridge on the north side of the mountain. The trail started as a typical fall hike, but turned to a winter hike with increasing amounts of snow during the ascent. There's a decent sized stream to cross about a tenth or two in - be careful of your footing. The snow on the trail was rarely more than an inch or two, and mostly packed by other hikers. Ice had formed in several places on the narrow trail, requiring common sense foot placement. There's a beautiful overlook into Little Tunnel Ravine about a third of the way up. Many pine boughs were snow-laden and encroached on the trail. I picked up a good bit of snow in the mesh pockets on my pack and in my shell's hood from brushing by the boughs on my way through.
The summit was windy and frigid, and although overcast, provided good views in all directions.
More details on my blog here.
