North Moat Mtn., two moose...Jan. 13

[forestgnome]

Lucy Brook...

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130878a.jpg




I heard the distant crunch off hooves punching through the crust, so I wandered toward the sound to find two bulls browsing...

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130816b.jpg




http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130820a.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130848a.jpg




http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/011308112a.jpg



Here, we can see where the antlers have recently dropped...

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130897a.jpg




The trail was shear ice all the way up the mountain.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130821a.jpg





Here's the summit cairn on the ice-encrusted summit...

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130868a.jpg




view of Mt. Carrigain...

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130843a.jpg




view of Mt. Washington...

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/01130867a.jpg


happy trails :)

[Charlie]

wow very very nice thanks

[KD Talbot]

In shot#6, did you check his teeth while you were standing there? What was his heart rate and blood pressure?

KDT

[Steve M]

In shot#6, did you check his teeth while you were standing there? What was his heart rate and blood pressure?

KDT
I'm with Kevin...Did you remove that piece of dirt from his eye while you were there??

Those shots are great, thanks.

[Rich]

I'm with Kevin...Did you remove that piece of dirt from his eye while you were there??

Those shots are great, thanks.


....did you guys have tea?

[Brad]

Unbelievable! Absolutely awesome. I wish I could find words to say how great these are. Only ForestGnome could have pulled these off!

[forestgnome]

Thanks much, everyone. Great humor ,as well. I did get to within about fifteen feet of one of them. They were exceptionally comfortable with my presence after a few minutes. They never stopped browsing for than a minute, and the percentage of time they spent looking at me was very low.

This is a mellow time of year for moose, even though the one time I was charged (bluff-charged?) was in February.:eek: I was quite green back then, and I've since learned how to hang out with them.

Hope everyone was out hiking on that beautiful Sunday!

happy trails :)

[TheNatrix]

Hate to repeat but amazing pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[Steve M]

Unbelievable! Only ForestGnome could have pulled these off!
We musn't forget that he IS a moose, remember?

[KD Talbot]

Correction: He's a gnome.

KDT

[KathyC]

I can't say enough about how great all of your photos are, I enjoy looking at them so much.

[Brad]

I can't say enough about how great all of your photos are, I enjoy looking at them so much.
And you thought you asked a simple question about seeing moose when hiking . . .

[KathyC]

Yup, silly me....

We're making plans to come up this summer, try camping for a night or two instead of a hotel, see how that goes. And we will hike, I was thinking Moat Mt. or Mt. Chocura, something doable. I've done small hikes up there in the past, the longest for me was Boulder loop by the Albany bridge a few years ago.

[forestgnome]

Kathy, If you want to see moose in this area, the best time by far is dawn. They generally spend days higher up and move down at night.

I would recommend camping at one of the campgrounds along the Kancamagus. Then I would recommend both Mt. Chocorua and North Moat Mt. These are both beautiful hikes for pretty forest and views.

Hike the Champney Falls Trail to Mt. Chocorua and/or First Sister(my favorite). Check out the falls along the way.

Hike to North Moat from West Side Road at Dianna's Bath. It is a long 4 miles, but very steady. The views are incredible.

happy trails :)

[KathyC]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this information. I actually have been to the Chapney Falls and I know exactly where it is, it was one of the first little hikes we did. I have no problem with being up before the sun, I wake up for work at 4 am for work everyday. The problem is the rest wouldn't, they think I a nut for it, lol. I don't think you're supposed to hike alone though, we'll see. I'll have to pay them off with dinner or something. I'm getting Really excited for it....:D

[Brad]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this information. I actually have been to the Chapney Falls and I know exactly where it is, it was one of the first little hikes we did. I have no problem with being up before the sun, I wake up for work at 4 am for work everyday. The problem is the rest wouldn't, they think I a nut for it, lol. I don't think you're supposed to hike alone though, we'll see. I'll have to pay them off with dinner or something. I'm getting Really excited for it....:D
I am very comfortable hiking alone on a well traveled trail. Or, you may find someone here on the forum to go with.