September 2, 2024

Start/End: Moosilauke Ravine Lodge

Peaks: Moosilauke (4,802')

Elevation Gain: 2,860 ft

RT Mileage: 10.94 mi

Duration: 5 hours, 29 minutes

Rock Difficulty: Class 1

After two weeks spent hiking in the Sierras, I was back in the Whites to finish the 48 on Moosilauke on Labor Day. For my route, I decided to go with a loop with the Asquam Ridge Trail, Carriage Road, and Snapper Trail, starting from the Ravine Lodge.

I was still a little jet-lagged after our return from California a few days ago, so I decided to take it easy and wake up at a rather late 5:30 AM. I left the house at 6:00, which put me at the Ravine Lodge at 8:15, and on the trail ten minutes later. After a few bridge crossings, the Asquam Ridge Trail began ascending very gently, so gently I could barely feel it. Despite the gentle grade, the trail was not all relaxing, with numerous blowdowns and just generally low trail quality. No hate to Dartmouth Outing Club, but some of these trails need work.

Anyway, after around two hours of ascending I gained the wooded summit of Jim, one of the three subpeaks of Moosilauke on my route today. I did not linger here, and continued to make my way towards my next summit, Blue. As I was descending Jim, low-level cumulus clouds began to drift overhead, not a good sign this early in the morning.

In the col between Jim and Blue, the Asquam Ridge Trail merged with the much nicer Beaver Brook Trail, which I was to take the rest of the way to the summit of Moosilauke. This trail bypasses the summit of Blue, and a short bushwhack is required to reach the summit. I started this bushwhack but ended up turning around at a huge blowdown which I had no interest in crossing just to reach a mediocre summit.

Instead, I continued making my way towards Moosilauke. Cloud cover continued to thicken overhead, but there were still intermittent breaks. I got one of these lucky breaks right as I broke treeline, but unfortunately it was already gone by the time I summited my 48th and final New Hampshire 4,000er, just after noon.

Unfortunately, my stay on the summit was limited as I could see showers moving in from the northwest and I wanted to get below treeline before they got here, but I was there long enough to get congratulated by a few folks and get some photos. I've congratulated a number of 48 finishers myself on various hikes, and it was cool to be on the receiving end this time; the community really is one of the reasons I love hiking so much.

Anyway, I did make it down to treeline on the Carriage Road in time for the shower. It didn't last long, and so I decided South Peak was worth a visit. Although the shower had ended, the cloud deck had lowered to shroud the summit cone of Moosilauke in fog (see cover photo). Still, I spent a good bit of time on South Peak, especially since it was a nice vantage point to see some early foliage with the few deciduous trees above 3,500 ft on the south side of Moosilauke.

As I descended the Carriage Road, the sky appeared to get progressively clearer, and I had probably been on the summit at the worst time today. Just my luck. Anyway, I was back at the Ravine Lodge just after 2:00 PM, and my 48th and final 4,000er was finally in the books. I will be submitting my application to the AMC White Mountain Four Thousand Footer Club as soon as I can, and I'll hopefully be receiving my certificate at the annual reunion next April. Can't wait!