We parked at Stoney Brook Trailhead on a cold January day in 2001. I was a new "winter hiker" but was with Steve B who was seasoned winter veteran. I'd only done the Wildcats once with a Youth Group, boy were we unprepared that day.
Anyway, I had snowshoes, better boots and warmer clothes with me and felt good about making the summit. We'd done Chocorua weeks before and we made it to the icy top. My 6 point instep crampons were huge that day.
It was cloudy and cold as we headed up the moderate trail through beautiful cottony woods. I put my snowshoes on right away and was glad I had them. The trail was somewhat packed but not like the hard frozen stuff we often see in the Whites.
We moved pretty slowly, no hurry as the start was early. Snow levels increased as we climbed higher and soon we were at the junction of Stoney Brook and Carter-Moriah ridge. There was TONS of snow here, more than I'd seen in a long time. Several brightly colored tents were set up there with campers stirring around.
We took a left at the jct and started to climb right off the bat. Steve was complaining of cold feet for the last part before the junction and he was thinking of turning back. And he did the right thing by turning back then, his feet were hurting with the cold. We were about 4 hours into it. Mine felt OK, not toasty but OK,
I saw some footprints in the new snow, the trail was less packed and I foundered in some of the deep white stuff. I was getting flooded by my own doubts but I continued. I was heartened by the other footprints and quickened my pace. I still couldn't see the summit but it couldn't be far.
I thought I'd reached the summit when I got to a bony ridge. I looked right and saw some murky views off into Maine. I wasn't on the summit, the path went on. I thought about turning back, my feet were really getting cold now.
But I went on, fighting the cold and my doubts again. I caught up with the Mother-Son pair in front of me and followed them up the steep last bit to the true summit of Moriah. There were no views from the top on this day! My feet were very cold now and I'd lost some feeling in my toes so I spent very little time on the summit.
Once I was walking quicker downhill my feet got warmer! I figured it was the friction of my feet sliding downhill in my boots. I felt tired but proud of myself, I'd pushed on despite many doubts. My toes were tingling now and hurting.
I told the two in front to go ahead, I was a little tired now and decided to go slowly down Stoney Brook. I hadn't eaten or drank very much and so I stopped to have a quick lunch. My feet actually felt warm by this time. I took my time going down, no glissading on this trail, just a mild downhill.
I arrived back at the truck and Steve congratulated me. He'd spoken with the two who had beat me down the trail. The empty McDonalds bag told me he'd already had a hot lunch. I had mine at the KFC in Gorham. I was happy that winter peak #3 was done......but who's counting?