White Cap Mountain (100 Mile Wilderness) 11/22

We approached White Cap in the 100 Mile Wilderness from the Katahdin Iron works. The biggest adventure in this hike is the drive in on the logging roads. The initial drive in from the highway to the gatehouse is very good. After the gatehouse you cross the bridge and turn right. The quality of the road drops off a bit but is still fairly good. At the split where the road goes left to Gulf Hagus the road to the right to high bridge is a bit more difficult but can be done by any car when driving carefully. After crossing High Bridge the road is terrible. It is four miles from High Bridge to the proposed parking. We drove about three miles and walked from there. That added two miles to the hike but saved the six round trip we would have done to and from that point if we had walked from High Bridge. A mountain bike would be perfect on this hike and you could get it all the way to the beginning of the White Brook trail.

The road walk to the trailhead is very easy. The White Cap trail is in good condition. Half way up there is a split. The trail to the right is the old Fire Warden's trail. I believe it only saves about a half mile and it is not maintained. We stayed on the White Cap trail. Right after the split there are a few blowdowns, but after that it is clear to the top.

The AT trail to the Summit is in very good condition.

There were a few patches of snow and a bit of ice from 2500' up but there was no need of special traction of any sort.

The views from the top are spectacular and Mt. Katahdin is clearly visible to the north. If this Mountain with its views were located in NH it would be extremely popular. While we did pass many trucks and hunters on our way in, once we started walking we saw no one else all day.

Pictures of the hike may be seen here: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthre...00-Mile-Wilderness)-11-22&p=385544#post385544

Elevation gain: (From car spot) 2000'
Mileage (From car spot) About 8.2