x's through Mounts Willey, Field and Tom means that I did them (last July); and I did Jackson and Webster last week.
It is easy to get to the trailhead - up 93, through Franconia Notch, right onto 3 North, then 115 North, then 2 East through Gorham, then right on Bangor St:
It was beautiful heading up through Franconia Notch:
There is no parking at the trailhead, but there is a clearing (for parking) about 100 yards earlier. Across from this clearing is a lovely little footbridge, over the Peabody River:
Unfortunately, that is the last "water" that I will see today (except what I walk on up on the trail itself).
A good day to head up the Carter Moriah Trail
Using Map My Walk, I went up Carter Moriah Trail (2.0 miles) to get to the summit of Mount Surprise - I think it is called "Mount Surprise" is because when the "people-who-name-things" looked at the topo maps, they were surprised that this "insignificant summit" (as quoted from the AMC's White Mountain Guide) turned out to be able to be classified as a "mountain". The trail continues 2.5 miles to the Mt Moriah summit. Lunch on top, then back down the 4.5 miles to my car. With twists and turns and overlooks, I covered 9.72 miles in 4 hours 26 minutes. I covered about 6320 feet in climbing elevation (3160 up, and then back down):
The first two miles of the trail (up to Mount Surprise) is a very nice walk in the woods:
Right before Mount Surprise is a ledge off to the right, which opens up to some great views!:
Then back into the woods and up the trail:
On Mount Moriah there is a USGS marker:
and, of course, my selfie:
GREAT 360-degree views!
and is that a little bit of snow on the northeast side of Mount Jefferson??:
Heading back down, I passed a HUGE Glacial Errata (a boulder, but it was really big!):
There were wildflowers beside the trail:
and some wildlife (Hello, Mr. Toad!)
And, although I am not a big fan of mushrooms/fungus growth, there were some beautiful specimens on a stump::
It was remarkable how different it feels going down a trail, compared with ascending the same trail - they are two totally different experiences. Going down, you use different muscles, see different things, and, because time has passed, even the light on the trail and in the forest is different. For the last two miles, I was really able to bounce down the mountain (~ 16 minutes per mile). Thank you God for a Great Day!
Thursday, June 25, 2015 (left Boston at 9 AM, home at 9 PM)
179 miles -- Boston to 93 North, then northeast on 3, then 115, then 2 (3 hours)
9.72 miles -- hiking (4 hours 26 minutes)
4 hours -- to get home (16, then 95)
Continuing to listen to all my songs, in alphabetical order. I listened to 89 songs in the G's
starting with
Get Your Way 2005 Jamie Cullum Catching Tales
through
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon 1994 Urge Overkill Whatever - The 90's Pop & Culture Box (7 cds)
(don't worry, I won't give you the WHOLE LIST
but it can be accessed here
highlights include
"Gethsemane" by Rickie Lee Jones from her 2007 album "The Sermon On Exposition Boulevard"
3 versions of "The Ghost In You" [The Psychedelic Furs; Counting Crows (studio from "Clueless" soundtrack; and live from cd2 the deluxe edition "August and Everything After")]
5 versions of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" [4 from Bruce Springsteen (studio, plus 3 live versions); Rage Against The Machine (No Boundaries - Benefit For The Kosovar Refugees)]
"Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones
2 versions of "Gimme Some Lovin'"" [The Spencer Davis Group (Stevie Winwood on lead vocal); Traffic (live - Welcome To The Canteen)]
34 songs that begin with the word "Girl", including:
A Girl Called Johnny (The Waterboys)
Girl Don't Tell Me (The Beach Boys)
The Girl From Ipanema(5 versions!)
Girl From The North Country (2 versions, both by Bob Dylan (Freewheelin' and Nashville Skyline)
I hiked Moriah my 3rd year at camp (when I was...14 yrs old), and remember loving it! We spent an overnight there. It's fun to think of you hiking on the same trails. Glad it was a great hike!
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