South Moat 11-11-05
Trip to South Moat 2770’
4.6 miles Elevation gain 2150’
Kevin, Judy and Emma
The trailhead on Dugway Road had been moved about a mile further west and the first mile or so of trail is new and not unlike a logging road, though not quite wide enough. Patches of snow splattered the landscape and upon inspection revealed countless turkey tracks. It was cold again. Our first trip to South Moat was in January ‘04 and our visit to the summit was cut short by the icy north winds whipping across the summit. I was hoping today wouldn’t be as cold as that again but it was early November and there had already been snow that was staying on the summits. Although the calendar was in disagreement, winter had settled into the mountains.
Even though it seems small in comparison to its neighbors to the north the bald summit of South Moat can make for a very uncomfortable spot when the air is ripping down from the north and west. This was the case again today as we barely had time to eat a quick lunch before it became uncomfortable enough to want to get back down below the trees. Even though we were better dressed this time the wind proved the stronger man again, driving us back down below treeline to ledges on the leeward side of the mountain where warm sunshine was melting ice that had formed during the cold nights before our trip.
To the north and west the skies were over cast and snowsqualls could be seen crossing the mountains like sunlight through the clouds. To our south and east the skies were clear and the sun warmed us. As we ducked back down from the summit there was a group of guys donning warmer stuff to cross the summit on the way to Middle Moat. When we got further down the southern side we were able to take our winter gear off. Ice was melting in the warm sun and it was a pleasant day, much the opposite of what it had been on the summit only a few hundred feet above. The views from the summit and southern slopes are so outstanding I will return again and again and so far I have not had good visibility from there, seeing only a few miles. I can only imagine the views on a clear day. Something to look forward to.
Read More4.6 miles Elevation gain 2150’
Kevin, Judy and Emma
The trailhead on Dugway Road had been moved about a mile further west and the first mile or so of trail is new and not unlike a logging road, though not quite wide enough. Patches of snow splattered the landscape and upon inspection revealed countless turkey tracks. It was cold again. Our first trip to South Moat was in January ‘04 and our visit to the summit was cut short by the icy north winds whipping across the summit. I was hoping today wouldn’t be as cold as that again but it was early November and there had already been snow that was staying on the summits. Although the calendar was in disagreement, winter had settled into the mountains.
Even though it seems small in comparison to its neighbors to the north the bald summit of South Moat can make for a very uncomfortable spot when the air is ripping down from the north and west. This was the case again today as we barely had time to eat a quick lunch before it became uncomfortable enough to want to get back down below the trees. Even though we were better dressed this time the wind proved the stronger man again, driving us back down below treeline to ledges on the leeward side of the mountain where warm sunshine was melting ice that had formed during the cold nights before our trip.
To the north and west the skies were over cast and snowsqualls could be seen crossing the mountains like sunlight through the clouds. To our south and east the skies were clear and the sun warmed us. As we ducked back down from the summit there was a group of guys donning warmer stuff to cross the summit on the way to Middle Moat. When we got further down the southern side we were able to take our winter gear off. Ice was melting in the warm sun and it was a pleasant day, much the opposite of what it had been on the summit only a few hundred feet above. The views from the summit and southern slopes are so outstanding I will return again and again and so far I have not had good visibility from there, seeing only a few miles. I can only imagine the views on a clear day. Something to look forward to.
First glimpse of Mount Chocorua.
