bryan
New member
date: 4/26/13
trails: baldface circle trail, slippery brook trail, bushwack
conditions: trails were snow free with a mix of dry and wet/muddy footing until about 2k on slippery brook trail where snow cover became continuous up to the trail junction at the height of land. from there i bushwacked west across the upper drainage of slippery brook planning to hit the north ridge of sable. once i got a look at the mountain i noted an open, but steep route up an eastern drainage going almost direct to the summit so i headed a bit more south to pick up that line. the woods in this area were mostly open birch glades and full of moose sign. across the south facing drainage there was little to no snow, but as i began the steep ascent of sable the snow became consistently deep and soft with pockets of bare ground. i hit the ridge just north of the summit and picked up moose paths and then the old route of the long abandoned sable mountain trail to the recognized high point. the route of the old trail was evident for a short bit leaving the summit towards chandler and the snow quickly disappeared once on the south facing ridge on sable. numerous moose paths up high and i was possibly on the old trail at times, but it was mostly path of least resistance through scappier woods and a few real steep pitches around some small cliffs down towards the col. i got a good view of chandler and picked my line which would be just east of the ridge through an open drainage rather than on the ridge the old trail followed. no trouble finding the recognized high point and the old trail leaving to the south was very evident. i dropped back down towards the sable/chandler col then peeled off east towards slippery brook before heading more north east crossing a number of small drainages and minor ridges of sable with a mix of woods, but mostly swampy open ground. i eventually stumbled upon an old road that i followed through a landing then down towards the brook before it turned south. another road led northeast to another landing and from there moose paths crossed through a beautiful swampy area of stunted spruce/fir with great views to the surrounding peaks before reaching the brook and the trail on the other side. some pretty obscure going in spots back up to the baldface/eastman col especially where the trail had patchy snow cover. numerous small drainages crossed during the day were not an issue. slippery brook required stepping in water, but i got lucky and hit it at a pretty decent spot. the first sizable crossing on the evans notch side of slippery brook trail was a rock hop, but has the potential to be difficult if the water got higher.
equipment: snowshoes came on and off probably half a dozen times over the course of the day. essential in the woods high on sable and chandler. useful coming down the first bit of slippery brook trail on the way out.
comments: an awesome day. lots of work in the soft snow. many great views from various points on both peaks and from the old roads down low. probably not the same once things leaf out, but real nice this time of year. i was impressed by the amount of moose sign i saw last week on clough, but today was ridiculous. some fresh bear tracks as well. great to be out.
bryan
[email protected]
trails: baldface circle trail, slippery brook trail, bushwack
conditions: trails were snow free with a mix of dry and wet/muddy footing until about 2k on slippery brook trail where snow cover became continuous up to the trail junction at the height of land. from there i bushwacked west across the upper drainage of slippery brook planning to hit the north ridge of sable. once i got a look at the mountain i noted an open, but steep route up an eastern drainage going almost direct to the summit so i headed a bit more south to pick up that line. the woods in this area were mostly open birch glades and full of moose sign. across the south facing drainage there was little to no snow, but as i began the steep ascent of sable the snow became consistently deep and soft with pockets of bare ground. i hit the ridge just north of the summit and picked up moose paths and then the old route of the long abandoned sable mountain trail to the recognized high point. the route of the old trail was evident for a short bit leaving the summit towards chandler and the snow quickly disappeared once on the south facing ridge on sable. numerous moose paths up high and i was possibly on the old trail at times, but it was mostly path of least resistance through scappier woods and a few real steep pitches around some small cliffs down towards the col. i got a good view of chandler and picked my line which would be just east of the ridge through an open drainage rather than on the ridge the old trail followed. no trouble finding the recognized high point and the old trail leaving to the south was very evident. i dropped back down towards the sable/chandler col then peeled off east towards slippery brook before heading more north east crossing a number of small drainages and minor ridges of sable with a mix of woods, but mostly swampy open ground. i eventually stumbled upon an old road that i followed through a landing then down towards the brook before it turned south. another road led northeast to another landing and from there moose paths crossed through a beautiful swampy area of stunted spruce/fir with great views to the surrounding peaks before reaching the brook and the trail on the other side. some pretty obscure going in spots back up to the baldface/eastman col especially where the trail had patchy snow cover. numerous small drainages crossed during the day were not an issue. slippery brook required stepping in water, but i got lucky and hit it at a pretty decent spot. the first sizable crossing on the evans notch side of slippery brook trail was a rock hop, but has the potential to be difficult if the water got higher.
equipment: snowshoes came on and off probably half a dozen times over the course of the day. essential in the woods high on sable and chandler. useful coming down the first bit of slippery brook trail on the way out.
comments: an awesome day. lots of work in the soft snow. many great views from various points on both peaks and from the old roads down low. probably not the same once things leaf out, but real nice this time of year. i was impressed by the amount of moose sign i saw last week on clough, but today was ridiculous. some fresh bear tracks as well. great to be out.
bryan
[email protected]
