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Benton, NH Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below. ![]() Looking down the Moosilauke Carriage Road on the way to the Mt. Moosilauke summit With a good weather forecast, I decided to head over to Mt. Moosilauke and try the Glencliff Trail. Upon arriving at the parking lot, I could tell the immediate area was in the midst of a small snow storm - not quite the mostly sunny forecast I had seen. After putting on my Stablicers, I headed down High Street to the proper Glencliff Trail trailhead and was on my way. On this particular portion of trail, I was the first person to make tracks since the 1-3" of fresh powder fell. Soon, I met up with the parking lot shortcut and was on a pretty well packed trail. Most of the Glencliff Trail is moderate at best in terms of steepness - and fortunately the only water crossings of any volume were bridged by wood and/or snow. Though my Stablicers were being a pain in the neck (I've never had them fall off on my so many times as I did on this hike, not quite sure why), I elected to keep them on as I passed the first group of the day and headed up the steeps of the trail. Though there was some slick stuff underneath the untracked powder, I was able to make it in just my Stablicers, with the aid of my ice axe. After this steep, the trail empties out on the Moosilauke Carriage Road for a gradual ascent to the summit. While there had been glimpses of sunshine and blue sky, it was all clouds once I cleared the treeline - visibility of a few hundred feet, high winds, etc. I found the trail a bit hard to follow in a few places, as some cairns had likely been covered in snow drifts. Nonetheless, I was able to find the summit without losing the trail. After looking at the non-view for a minute or so, I put on my goggles and headed back downhill to get out of the winds. Upon arriving at the Glencliff Trail, I was able to make decent time back to the summit (with a few pauses to allow an increasing amount of hikers by), thanks to the snow/ice/pitch of the trail. Though I didn't have any views, the exercise and few seconds of blue sky just before the treeline made the hike worthwhile.
![]() The Glencliff Trail trailhead on High Street
The view into the clouds at the Mt. Moosilauke summit
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