“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.'”
— from 4000s by 40
This page presents pictures from the prologue and first chapter of 4000s by 40. If you‘d like to read more about the adventure—the mistakes, the lessons, and the everyday challenge of navigating middle age—you can find the book [here]. To go along with the photos, I’ve added a quick retelling of events, along with quotes from the book, to give some context and flavor from the chapter.
The Story Behind the Photos
Hiking all of New Hampshire’s 4000-footers was my goal for 4000s by 40, but Mount Moosilauke had other plans. This 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.
Shortly after heading out, I saw the first sign pointing towards adventure. It wasn’t too ominous, but a guy can dream, can’t he? Bring on the steep and uneven path!
Seeing Orange on the Gorge Brook Trail
The Gorge Brook Trail has these incredibly bright orange signs that add some energy to the hike. Whether it was the signs or the prospect of a new adventure, I was feeling good and strong when I started out—even with the extra weight of skis and ski boots on my back. It didn’t seem like anything could go wrong.
“Skinning” wasn’t something I even considered yet. I was a noob.
Views Above Treeline on Moosilauke
But as I started to emerge above treeline, the sky rapidly changed from blue to gray. A storm was coming in. After a long slog, it was a tough pill to swallow. But no matter how much I wished it to go away, the closer I got to the summit, the darker the skies became. I was hoping for a little adventure when I set out that morning—I got more than I asked for!
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 concern. With temperatures rapidly dropping, it was time to go. Raking my feet into the ski boots, I cut my shins in several places—the first blood drawn of my 4000-footer adventure—and began the harrowing descent of The Gorge Brook Trail.
I would have to come back another day.
So much to learn.
“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.“
Book: 4000s by 40
This was my reinitiation to New Hampshire’s 4000-footers—freezing gear, a bad decision to carry skis, and a quick lesson in mountain weather. To read more about the 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.
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.
- 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.
- NewEnglandWaterfalls.com – Provides difficulty ratings and highlights scenic viewpoints in the winter—perfect for planning ahead.