Gorge Brook Slides

A return to Moosilauke's Gorge Brook valley to explore an old slide on the west side of the ravine. Of the six old slide tracks on that slope, this is #5, going south to north. It's just north of slide #4, the 1927 slide that was the route of the abandoned Gorge Brook Slide Trail. In this photo, slide #4 is the most prominent snowy swath, and slide #5 is just to its right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was still some good color on the slopes across from the Ravine Lodge. 

I always enjoy walking the 2012 relocated section above the junction with the Snapper Trail - easy grade, good footing and open woods. 

It was nice to chat with Ralph Jesseman and Tammy Lynch, who were the first hikers up Moosilauke this day.

Gorge Brook.

Open woods for bushwhacking up to the slides.

Runout track from my objective, slide #5.

The lower part of the slide has two parallel swaths. I climbed up the gravelly/stony left (south) swath... 

...and cut across to the base of the very steep, ledgy swath on the right (north) side.

I determined that this pitch was too steep for me to safely climb.

I worked my way up along the edge, gaining a good perspective on the steepness. Measured on a computer mapping program, the pitch came in at 40 degrees.

I went back across to the left swath to gain a little elevation...

 

...then bushwacked back across the slope to a small perch atop the steep ledgy pitch, gaining a view across the valley to Mt. Braley.

Wider view.

Looking across both swaths on this lower part of the slide.

After a nice break I headed up the closed-in slide track....

...to the next pitch  of open ledge, which provided some fun scrambling on dry rock.

More views, with clouds moving in.

 

 

Down-look.

 

Continuing up the track.

 

A tricky spot at the base of the next set of ledges.

Views expanding, with Sandwich Dome and other peaks popping up on the horizon.

It was tempting to continue up these ledges at 3700 ft., but light rain was moving in. Time to head down.

I knew from previous visits that I could get down more quickly and safely through fairly open woods on the steep slope between  slide #5 and the next slide to the south.

Along the way I passed a marker from some kind of Dartmouth research project.

I cut over for a quick peek at slide #4, the route of the old Gorge Brook Slide Trail.

Farther down, I climbed up onto a high bank for a look down at both lower swaths of slide #5.

Looking up towards the East Peak and the upper Gorge Brook ravine.

Trail sign display in Ravine Lodge.