Hiking all of New Hampshire’s 4000-footers was my goal for 4000s by 40, but Mount Moosilauke had other plans. My first effort was a disaster. What started as a beautiful sunny day in crisp weather turned into a nightmare when a storm rolled in, forcing me to turn around. For some reason, I felt compelled to carry skis for my first 4000-footer, hoping to ski down the Carriage Road Trail. What I got for my efforts was a whole lot of frozen gear and a dicey descent. I learned a lot that day. Well, kinda.
The Gorge Brook Trail Up Mount Moosilauke
Shortly after heading out, I saw the first sign leading towards adventure! It wasn’t too ominous, but a guy can dream, can’t he?
The Gorge Brook Trail has these incredibly bright orange signs that add some energy to the hike.
“Later, freezing my ass off two hundred feet from the summit, I felt like I should be wearing a sign around my neck that said, ‘Grade A Moron.’”
“Skinning” wasn’t something I even thought about yet
Views Above Treeline on Moosilauke
As I started to emerge above treeline, the sky rapidly changed from blue to gray. A storm was coming in. After a long slog through trails of snow-covered spruce, it was a tough pill to swallow. But no matter how much I wished it away, the closer I got to the summit, the more ominous the skies became. I was hoping for a little adventure when I set out that morning – I guess I got what I asked for!
Moon landing! With probably about fifteen to twenty minutes of hiking left to go before the summit, the storm accelerated, causing a total whiteout. I then discovered that my water and Gatorade had frozen solid, as had my ski boots, presenting a real issue regardless of which direction I chose to go. But with temperatures rapidly dropping, it was time to go. Raking my feet into the ski boots, I drew the first blood of my 4000-footer adventure and began the harrowing descent of The Gorge Brook Trail.
“Climbing is more honest than any human interaction you have ever had. The mountains have no hidden agendas and no lies to tell. They stand tall, daring you to take them on, making no apologies for being difficult or temperamental. This earns them your respect, and self-respect is what they give you in return for attempting their summits.”
Mount Moosilauke Ascent Details (1st Attempt)
Moosilauke Height: 4,802 Feet
Route (Out and Back): Ravine Lodge Road to Gorge Brook Trail
Elevation Gain: 2,518 Feet (Made it to around 4,600 feet before having to turn around due to an incoming storm)
Total Distance: 8.6 Miles (The Ravine Lodge Road was closed to cars, adding 1.5 miles of hiking in both directions)
Trailhead Location: The Ravine Lodge Road is in Warren, NH, just west of Woodstock. The gate is often closed starting sometime in November.
Exploring Mount Moosilauke: Trail Reports & Peakbagging Resources
In my experience, Moosilauke looks different every time you go. It can also be subject to some highly unpredictable weather changes. You hear a lot more about this on the Presidential Range, but I’ve witnessed it on Moosilauke more than any other 4000-footer. To help navigate, here are some resources I use to determine trail conditions, peakbagging stats, and scenic highlights. There are certainly other references that I use, but these are a few of my go-tos:
- Peakbagger.com – Mount Moosilauke | – A great place to track your 4000-footer progress, log summits, and see detailed elevation data.
- NewEnglandWaterfalls.com – Provides difficulty ratings and highlights scenic viewpoints in the winter—perfect for planning ahead.
- AMC Trail Maps – I have different versions that came with a more detailed trail book, but it’s always good to have a reliable map.
So that was my introduction to New Hampshire’s 4000-footers—freezing gear, a bad decision to carry skis, and a quick lesson in mountain weather. If you want to read more about my journey (including the times I actually made it to the summit), check out 4000s by 40.
Looking for more photos of other 4000-footers? Head back to the 4000s by 40 Visual Companion to explore the other peaks.
Prepared for who knows what. I’ve been told my mountain sunglasses make me look like a deranged bug, and I’m okay with that.