Foreword

Welcome to the Guide for the Moosilauke History Series. Mount Moosilauke perhaps does not have the notoriety of some other peaks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire…but it should!

Moosilauke, which noted guidebook author Steven Smith has called “The Gentle Giant,” is the westernmost of the Granite State’s high peaks. But it is not elevation alone that merits real interest in the mountain. Moosilauke has an interesting geology, a compelling natural history, and an incredibly rich human history, and so in many ways represents the White Mountains in one great peak. As W.D. Wetherell has written, “Moosilauke, by any measure, is the classic White Mountain, the one you would steer your friends to if they had time to explore just one New Hampshire summit.” And you can explore it on foot, or through the pages of the Moosilauke History Series.

The Series provides a wonderful introduction to this iconic mountain, and touches on many topics that encompass the region as a whole. The forest history of Moosilauke has lessons that apply to the entire wooded landscape of New Hampshire…and did you know that forestry research continues today on the mountain? While the Presidential and Franconia Ranges may have a better-known alpine zone, this beautiful, fragile, fascinating and regionally rare ecosystem is very well represented on Moosilauke.

Mount Washington’s heritage of summit hotels and a carriage road (now an Auto Road) is well recognized…but did you know that Mount Moosilauke had a summit hotel for many decades? And that today’s simple hiking trail to Moosilauke’s summit, called the Carriage Road, was indeed a road passable by wagons and was well-traveled by them (and later, by autos) for many years? Notably, Moosilauke’s hotel and carriage road were built just a few years after their better-known counterparts on Mount Washington, evidence of the development of tourist facilities throughout the White Mountains. (A railroad up Moosilauke was proposed, but was never built.)

Though I am privileged to be a staff member of the Mount Washington Observatory, I have to give credit where credit is due, and acknowledge that the first winter expedition on Mount Washington, in the winter of 1870–1871, was preceded by a training expedition on Mount Moosilauke the previous winter. The experience gained on Moosilauke was critical for a safe and successful occupation of the higher peak. As the leader of the Mount Washington expedition noted, “In some respects, the Mount Washington phenomena have not equaled those upon Moosilauke.” It’s not too much to say that the Mount Washington Observatory, established in 1932, had its foundation built on Mount Moosilauke in 1870.

Hiking clubs of various sorts have had a long and storied relationship with the White Mountains, exploring wild country, creating trails, building overnight facilities, and engaging in stewardship of these magnificent peaks. And you can’t discuss the history and significance of Moosilauke without including the Dartmouth Outing Club, and its enduring legacy of outdoor education, trail building, skiing, rustic lodging, and so much more. The Dartmouth Outing Club is an excellent example of what trail clubs have accomplished, and continue to accomplish, in the White Mountains. And speaking of trails…did you know that for all the northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, Moosilauke serves as their spectacular introduction to the White Mountains?

The Moosilauke History Series encompasses many topics that go well beyond the mountain itself. The story of the once common White Mountains summit houses is considered. The epic achievements of the Civilian Conservation Corps, from whose work, now almost a century old, we still benefit, is also told. The fascinating story of the mountains’ geology, and that of its neighbor, the impressive Lost River gorge, is included, plus tales of landslides, mining, and even the hunt for gold. The origin of the White Mountain National Forest, a “Land of Many Uses” from which we derive so much economic, recreational, and natural value, is also chronicled. Tales of early surveying, allowing a better understanding of the lay of our land, are featured, too. And for those who prefer their written words enlivened by visual images, many photos and stereoviews from the early days of Moosilauke and of the region illustrate the Series lavishly.

The Series also focuses on some of the many individuals who have made the history of Moosilauke and whose stories enliven our understanding of the challenges and the satisfactions experienced over more than two centuries (and doubtless more, considering the long Abenaki presence) of people on the mountain. The stories of the early explorers, innkeepers, photographers, foresters, tourists, and more depict many generations of human relationships with this mountain and its alluring environment.

So, enjoy this literary journey to, up, and around Mount Moosilauke. It will enrich your understanding of the history and nature not just of “The Gentle Giant,” but of the White Mountains and of the state of New Hampshire as a whole. And I suspect that the more you learn and the more you explore the pages of the Moosilauke History Series, the more you will want to lace up your hiking boots and explore the marvelous peak and its many mountain neighbors which inspired Bob Averill and Kris Pastoriza to compile this remarkable Series, a tribute to the undeniable attraction of Mount Moosilauke.

Peter Crane
Curator
Gladys Brooks Memorial Library
Mount Washington Observatory