Distance: 5.64 miles
Elevation: 2142 feet
Time: 3 hours, 36 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 With a View, Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge
The Hike
After surviving the slow drive behind the Quebecois tour bus, going under the Albany Covered Bridge, and not crying while driving on the sketchy part of Passaconaway Road, I finally made it to the South Moat Mtn. Trailhead! The parking lot was decently sized, but also decently full. I was able to find (make?) a spot between two trees. I noticed right away that the weather was much warmer than it was before, and it somehow smelled like spring? While I was getting ready, I was reflecting on the day so far and was just so happy that I was doing this (and not at work).
I started the hike right at the trailhead which followed a logging road through a recent clearing. The trees in this early section were very young and some excellent yellow colors that lit up the area. It really felt like a summer day, but with fall colors. The trail followed the logging roads, then dipped into the woods to cross a small brook, then goes through another young forest, and then heads back into another denser section. The trail continues to follow an old wide road, with one section that seems to be rerouted with a nice switchback. South Moat Mountain is barely visible through the trees around this section. The trail dips down to cross the Dry Brook on a lovely bridge.
The trail begins to pick up steepness soon after crossing the Dry Brook, alternating between gentle trails and steep climbs. There were two sections of rerouted trails: the first was a steep pitch rerouted through some lovely switchbacks, and the second was a steep pitch rerouted through a mini boulder field, which was a little difficult to follow at times.
After the mini boulder field, the trail starts alternating between climbing up rock slabs and walking breaks in the woods. This section, inoffensively, reminded me a lot of the Kittatinny Ridge in NJ. Open canopy, rocky flooring, and a good amount of partial views. The sun was really beating down at this point, and I spent a good amount of time contemplating the paradox of needing to carry lots of water when its hot, but therefore sweating more when carrying lots of water. Anyway, there is one ledge where there is a lovely view of the surrounding landscape, and Mt. Chocorua likes to pop its head through every now and then.
The trail continued to meander through slabby sections and gentle woods, and there were two spots that smelled awful - I guess it could have been a decomposing animal? Mushroom? Not sure. The trail was sometimes tricky to follow along the slabs, but I made it up in one piece! The further up the trail, the more views start to appear, and the more bugs start to appear (are these fall bugs or resurrected bugs because of the warmth?).
Just below the summit is the first excellent view towards the Sandwich Range, and a little further up is the true summit area which is breathtaking. Views in all directions - just amazing! The area is flat and sandy with some taller rocks on either side that can be climbed. The fall colors were spectacular and nobody was at the true summit! I then realized why... the flies! I've never been so bombarded with flies before. I think they may have been deer flies? I'm not really sure. They were insane. The rocks looked like they were moving with all of the beasts crawling on them! Either way, the views were amazing and worth the bit of torture. I parked just below the summit for a quick break.
The views...
Heading down the mountain started slow as six mountain bikers walked up past me carrying their bikes (?!), but then I flew down the mountain. I found humor in how slowly I went up, but how quickly I went down. The return trip really felt fast, and before I knew it I was back at the car. I did my quick change, and then set up a camp chair to journal outside of the car since the weather was so nice. A chipmunk even came up to me to say hello (or beg for food...). Either way, once finished I hopped back in the car and started the long drive home. The cherry on top of this amazing day was my shower once I got home, and while washing my hair, I found one last fly.
Step-By-Step
Carefully follow Moat Mountain Trail (yellow blazes) from parking lot to summit and back.
“Moat Mountain Trail” from White Mountain Guide, 30th Ed. (2017)
This trail traverses the main ridge of Moat Mtn., providing magnificent views from numerous outlooks. Parts of the ridge are very exposed to weather, particularly in the section that crosses Middle Moat and South Moad. the trail can be hard to follow along the open ridge sections in poor visibility; look carefully for cairns and blazes, many of which are faded.
The south terminus of the trail is located on Passaconaway Rd. (formerly Dugway Rd.). at the lights on NH 16 in COnway village, turn north (directly opposite NH 153) onto Washington St., which becomes West Side Rd. Go left at a fork, then at 0.9 mi., turn left onto Passaconaway Rd. Moat Mtn. Trail (sign) leaves Passaconaway Rd. at a trailhead parking area on the right, 3.2 mi. from West Side Rd. Passaconaway Rd. continues west another 3.4 mi. and joins the Kancamagus Highway near Blackberry Crossing Campground (but the west part of Passaconaway Rd. is closed to vehicles from November to May).
[...].
[...]. The trail descends to a col with a patch of woods that would provide some shelter in a storm, turns sharply right, climbs over an open ledgy knob, and ascends to the summit of South Moat at 7.0 mi.
The trail descends into scrub with intermittent views for 0.3 mi. then enters wood with many beautiful red pines. At 7.6 mi., the trail crosses a large, open ledge with southwest views (on the ascent from the south terminus, this is the first good outlook reached), and the trail becomes steep with rough footing. Below this section, the grade eases somewhat (although there a number of rough ledges), and at 8.3 mi., the trail turns right onto a wide, well-constructed relocation. The trail runs generally west, descending at easy grades with occasional minor ascents, crosses Dry Brook on a bridge at 8.6 mi., swings left and then right over a small ridge, and crosses a small brook at 9.3 mi. The trail climbs over another low ridge then turns left and runs 0.1 mi. followed by a temporary reroute to the right of an active log landing. (Starting from the trailhead, the reroute went left into the woods.) when the timber harvest is completed, the trail will resume its former route for the southernmost 0.1 mi. on a logging road beyond the gate at the trailhead.
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