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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Shelburne Moriah Mountain, Middle Moriah, Mt. Moriah, NH
Trails
Trails: Shelburne Trail, Kenduskeag Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Rattle River Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, September 22, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Only car at the Shelburne trailhead at 8:15am and 6pm upon my return. Only 3 cars at the Rattle River trailhead when I got down around 5:15pm. Room for at least a half dozen more.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Other than a few little trickles here and there, the only major crossings were on the descent of the Rattle River shortly before reaching the shelter. With low water they were an easy rock hop today.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There were some blowdowns but not too numerous. Most or all were on the Kenduskeag Trail. One was an uprooted tree that’s there to stay with a path around it. A few were at a difficult height for someone 5’11” but nothing too obnoxious. Some spots of undermined trail as well. I don’t recall a whole lot of blaze (even on the AT) but I didn’t have any problems following the trail. The Kenduskeag gets pretty narrow just north of the summit of Shelburne Moriah and may have you wondering if you’re on trail but shortly thereafter you reach a little ladder.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: I don’t think I saw any. Not any water on Kenduskeag so I’d bring extra. There’s some scrambles that aren’t suitable for most dogs.  
Bugs
Bugs: I think I saw some stinging insects but nothing biting.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing other than a bit of trash I picked up.  
 
Comments
Comments: I’m recovering from an ankle sprain but I couldn’t pass up the gorgeous weather this weekend. After a shorter hike yesterday, I thought I’d try my anklle our on something a little more strenuous. Lucky for me, it worked out :) The purpose of this trip was to grid Moriah in September, redline some new trails, and get another 52WAV peak.

The first two miles off Shelburne Trail along the road are pretty overgrown so I’d watch out for ticks but I didn’t find any. Pretty flat through here, but after the turn off onto the trail the trail gets a lot steeper. The cairn marking where the trail diverges left from the road is no longer marked by a cairn but has an arrow, some surveyors tape nearby, and is obvious enough. Kenduskeag was fairly tough at times but you have beautiful views from several points and it also has some very nice sections of alpine meadow and bog bridges that are flat :) Lots of mud along this trail to watch out for though. You’re only on C-M Trail for 0.1mi but there is a steep scramble here. I’d broken trail to about a quarter mile of the jct with Kenduskeag Trail last November on Rattle River Trail so while it was frustrating to essentially nulllify all my work that day by doing it all again, it was cool to see the trail without snow and finally have it completed.

Huge shout out to the couple who gave me a ride back to my car! :D  
Name
Name: Liam Cooney 
E-Mail
E-Mail: liamcooney96@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-09-23 
Link
Link: https:// 
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