1.0 Overview

This outing is a winter climb of Mt Moosilauke. Mount Moosilauke, at 4,802 feet, is the western-most 4,000-footer in NH. On a clear day the alpine summit affords hikers stunning views to the east, of the Franconia Ridge and Presidentials, and to the west, of the Green Mountains of Vermont and, in the distance, the Adirondacks in New York State. Moosilauke is not large, but winter travel on Moosilauke or anywhere is a very different ball-game from summer hiking, but with the right gear and a little training it can be safe and entirely enjoyable. The advantages are that when the weather is clear, it is usually very clear indeed, almost always without the summer haze. There tend to be fewer people on the mountain in the winter and, with snow on the ground, the place can be just plain gorgeous. Winter hiking anywhere in the White Mountains requires specialized equipment and skills, and experience in coping with weather, navigation, and winter gear. Extremely severe storms can develop suddenly and unexpectedly, especially above tree line. The combination of high wind and low temperatures has such a cooling effect that the worst conditions on Mt. Moosilauke are approximately equal to the worst reported from Antarctica, despite the much greater cold in the latter region.

2.0 Concept

2.1 Description

2.2 Schedule of Events

2.3 Expected Conditions and Difficulty

2.4 Special Requirements

3.0 Administration and Logistics

3.1 Announcement Date: 6 Feb 13

3.2 Roster Closing Date: 12 Feb 13

3.3 Costs

3.4 Equipment

3.4.1 Individual Equipment