Moriah, 2/1/2009

[LRiz]

I was dragging. Utterly, completely, annoyingly, though (to some extent) understandably dragging. Our five-peak adventure from the day before had thoroughly tired me out, to the point where no amount of caffeine could possibly restore my energy. However, as Eric accurately put it, our team had unfinished business. After falling slightly short of bagging the entirety of the Wildcat-Carter-Moriah range, I had my heart set on climbing Moriah before the weekend was out. Exhaustion, be damned... I would summit the mountain if it took me all day to do so.

The sky was overcast and gray as we pulled into the Bangor Road "neighborhood" parking area. Even the landscape around us seemed cold and drained of color as we quietly shuffled about in preparation for the hike ahead. A faint dusting of snow coated the other three cars in the lot, and I was surprised to see Rocket21's truck amongst them... It had been many weeks since I'd last seen him, and I was glad to know that I'd encounter a friend on the trail.

All was well, up until I bent down to strap on my snowshoes, and, mortified, came to realize that both of the front straps were torn! Not the best way to start a hike, that's for certain. Fortunately, I was able to remove the broken sections and attach the shoes using the shorter straps. Within a few minutes, we were on our way. Reaching the start of the trail itself, we were greeted by the marvelous sight of... firmly packed, perfect, seemingly endless broken trail. I almost died of happiness.

Although the initial climb was moderate, we tackled it at a very slow pace in an effort to conserve what little energy we had. Passing through beautiful stretches of woods, we ran into a group of hikers on their way down from Mt. Surprise, where they'd camped the night before. They informed us that the trail would remain broken all the way to the summit of Moriah. Most excellent.

Upwards we went. Reaching the open ledges, I was pleased to find that the trail remained packed with snow and was not at all icy.



While the views weren't spectacular, the air around us was calm and the temperatures not too cool, which made the ascent tolerable on this dreary day...



...that is, until we passed Mt. Surprise. Suddenly, almost cruelly, the trail showed its real nature, climbing up, then dipping down... over and over and over again, dragging us over multiple false summits. Approching one such summit, we encountered Rocket21, and stopped to chat for a while - a welcome break while it lasted, but we were soon on our way again. Fatigue overwhelmed me. Every step seemed a chore. My quads were aching, and my achilles had flared up angrily... and a part of me began to question why it is that I even enjoy climbing mountains. Why put my body through such hell? Why push on, when I could take the easy way out and just turn around?

It was amidst this rather bewildering internal conflict that I began to sense that the summit was near. Well, that's not entirely true. In fact, it kind of hit me like a slap in the face. Not being familiar with the Carter-Moriah trail, I hadn't realized that we were so close... yet all of a sudden there we were, standing on the stunning open ledges of Moriah itself. The shock of it all left me speechless (my first summit without a customary holler of joy).

At that very moment all of my negativity instantly left me, and I was overwhelmed by a sense of uncontrollable happiness. The pain of the grueling climb, the stresses of work and everyday life, all seemed to instantly fade away as I stood there on the summit of Moriah. It's really quite amazing how something as simple as climbing a mountain can affect a person so profoundly...



I have no idea why this particular hike resonated with me in the way that it did... but it made me realize, once again, why it is that I spend every spare moment of my time planning hikes, watching the weather like a hawk, and daydreaming about my weekend excursions.

...a few more (very underwhelming, I must admit) pictures here for those of you who are interested.

[Adventurous]

I can relate to the way that you were feeling with all the false summits on the Carter-Moriah trail. After each one...you keep telling yourself that you must be almost there and then another one comes. It's quite discouraging especially when you're tired like you were.

Congrats on another winter peak - I look forward to reading your reports on the remaining 10.

[Dave Bear]

Excellent tr and pics Larissa! I did Moriah up Stony Brook and down over Mount Surprise in the winter. I barely recall the ups and downs on that side because I was having so much fun night glissading down and looking at the lights in Gorham getting closer. Did you come back down over Surprise or go out Stony Brook?

[Tom Rankin]

This looks like MarcHowes-ian devotion to peakbagging!

I had this disease a few years ago for the W46, and I'm almost cured!

Almost, I swear, I can quite any time!

Any time! Really!

Ok, when's the next hike?

[rocket21]

Great trip report! I especially like the cameo appearance!

Originally Posted by LRiz

The shock of it all left me speechless (my first summit without a customary holler of joy).

Let the record show that this would indeed be the second summit without a holler - one of the Kinsmans did not get a holla, at least when I was within earshot!

[Kevin, Judy and Emma]

Fatigue overwhelmed me. Every step seemed a chore. My quads were aching, and my achilles had flared up angrily... and a part of me began to question why it is that I even enjoy climbing mountains. Why put my body through such hell? Why push on, when I could take the easy way out and just turn around?

Wait 'til you're my age and every hike feels like this!

It doesn't keep us home, though.

KDT

[The Feathered Hat]

Originally Posted by LRiz

Suddenly, almost cruelly, the trail showed its real nature, climbing up, then dipping down... over and over and over again, dragging us over multiple false summits. Approching one such summit, we encountered Rocket21, and stopped to chat for a while - a welcome break while it lasted, but we were soon on our way again. Fatigue overwhelmed me. Every step seemed a chore. My quads were aching, and my achilles had flared up angrily... and a part of me began to question why it is that I even enjoy climbing mountains. Why put my body through such hell? Why push on, when I could take the easy way out and just turn around?

I had this exact experience on the same trail (albeit without the truly welcome break of a rocket21 appearance) at the opposite end of the year, climbing the Carter-Moriah path out of Gorham on the hottest, most humid day of last summer. This trail's ups and downs on its upper portion seem to be just up and down enough so that lousy weather or physical fatigue will push a hiker's mind into an exploration of the nether regions of his or her hiking soul.

And then Moriah's summit with its beautiful views of the Carters is finally reached and suddenly all is back to right in the universe. The instant balm given by a summit still amazes and thrills me.

[peakbagger]

There used to be a trail somewhere in New England that has a reference to "the agonies" which described well the upper section of Carter Moriah Trail. A group from VFTT did the hike from Gorham one day and little or no trace could be found, so we ended up going from bump to bump trying to find the trail again. The trail bypasses most of the actual tops of these bumps, so you dodnt even get some of the views that you are working for.

Out of curiosity, what brand and model of snowshoes?

Good luck on a future finish and make sure you take time to enjoy the views along the way (trust me, any winter summit that you didnt get a view from will go on a new list to be repeated in the future).

[MichaelJ]

The "Agonies" are the bumps on "Agony Ridge" which is the upper portion of the Old Bridle Path below Greenleaf Hut.

Moriah was only my second winter 4K, and the first hike I did with a group from VFTT. I'm glad you were able to have such a great experience up there! It's sometimes-maligned for the long approaches, but the ledges are always worth the journey.

[rocket21]

Originally Posted by The Feathered Hat

(albeit without the truly welcome break of a rocket21 appearance)

I believe you are probably the only person who would consider a rocket21 appearance to be welcome Most folks shout "oh no!" and try to hide in the woods.

Originally Posted by peakbagger

There used to be a trail somewhere in New England that has a reference to "the agonies" which described well the uppoer section fo Carter Moriah Trail. A gourp from VFTT did the hike from Gorham one day and little or no trace could be found, so we ended up going from bump to bump trying to find the trail again. The trail bypasses most of the actual tops of these bumps, so you dodnt even get some of the views that you are working for.

Was this described in any of the AMC Guides? I did a very brief scan of a few of my old guides and the closest I came was the (I may have confused this spelling) Kenduskeag Trail, which in 1925, ascended between Stony Brook and Carter-Moriah

[1HappyHiker]

Originally Posted by LRiz

While the views weren't spectacular, the air around us was calm and the temperatures not too cool, which made the ascent tolerable on this dreary day...

Another great TR Larissa! And, perhaps Moriah was a good choice for a “dreary day”. No disrespect intended for the fine views from Moriah, but according to Steve Smith’s book (The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains), Moriah ranks dead last in terms of the number of other 4K peaks that can be seen from its summit.
Mts. Washington and Carriagain are tied for first place with 43 other 4K peaks visible from their summits, versus only 8 for Moriah.

[peakbagger]

Mike, Thanks for remebering where the Agonies are, I still think the term applies well to the CM trail.

[Silverfox]

Originally Posted by Kevin, Judy and Emma

Wait 'til you're my age and every hike feels like this!

It doesn't keep us home, though.

KDT

Yeah that about says it all

nice report Larissa..Ive done that trail a couple of times in snow conditions..enjoyed it with the various views on the ascent and decent view from the summit

http://flickr.com/photos/silverfox77...7613359441123/

Good look as your frontal assault of the NH winter 4ks continues.....almost there now

[Ed'n Lauky]

Originally Posted by 1HappyHiker

Another great TR Larissa! And, perhaps Moriah was a good choice for a “dreary day”. No disrespect intended for the fine views from Moriah, but according to Steve Smith’s book (The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains), Moriah ranks dead last in terms of the number of other 4K peaks that can be seen from its summit.
Mts. Washington and Carriagain are tied for first place with 43 other 4K peaks visible from their summits, versus only 8 for Moriah.

There has got to be worse than that. From the top of Owl's Head I don't think I even saw Owl's Head. As I think of it, I had roughly the same experience on Zealand.

Congratulations anyway on the hike. Hope to see you out there again sometime.

[drewski]

i felt strong on this hike so i pushed ahead of the team...boy was that a mistake???