KRobi
New member
Karen and I headed up to Maine, Friday night to do 5/6 of the "six pack" with our great friend StePHen. Arriving in Stratton we reviewed all our information, as we had DETAILED routes and notes from Beth (Damselfly, Steve's wife), as well as Tim (bikehikeskifish) and Bryan's trip reports. Sleeping in until 6, we were on the road to Canada by 7 for our first stop, Boundary Peak. Rt 27 to Canada is a lovely road and the Chain of Ponds area is beautiful. Passing easily through customs, we were soon at Mont Gosford Park. Following Beth's map we quickly arrived at a LOCKED GATE
. The gate is open in summer, but is owned by a private club which uses the area for hunting we think. Luckily, the park was just opening and for 13$ Canadian we entered on the Chemin Gosford which we followed without incident to the parking area. Packs on, we started the steep climb up the ATV trail. We arrived at the boundary swath and headed to the peak. Lots of salt licks and blinds on the Canadian side, but thankfully nothing by small game in season. The swath alone is worth the trip. Sort of like a reverse, Great Wall of China. Easy trip to the peak, sign in and Steve is at #96. (Was it called Panther at one time?) Reverse, and back to the US. Bit longer getting back through customs, but no issues.
Our next stop was Snow-Chain of Ponds. Took the old logging/ATV road which starts just up from the parking lot after crossing the bridge. Gradual and easy walk. Some mud higher up but it was easy to avoid. We bypassed the Snow Pond trail and opted to stay on the road to the upper part of the trail. We met a couple (only others we saw in 2 days) coming out. They were happy to follow the road and avoid the very wet and muddy trail. Up the trail to the summit, and Steve is at #97. Summit is like a garbage area. Remnants from the tower and cabin everywhere. Register is in a bat box. If you are going there in the near future it (register) was down to the last page so a new one would be great. We went down the same way, but did do the short (from the logging road) hike into the pond. Wet and muddy but easy to avoid and you still get the view of the pond.
Day 2-Got up early and we were at Whitecap and North Kennebago by 7:30. Roads in, were in good shape and would be passable with any car (lower clearance vehicles would need more caution but would still be ok). Long way in on dirt roads (26 miles or so).
Another ATV/Trail to follow. Some water and mud down low but it was avoidable. We went to the right at the junction to do Whitecap first. Following the ATV trail to it's end you begin a short bushwack on well established herd paths to the summit which were easy to follow. Steve's #98 down.
Back the way we came to the intersection of the ATV and herd path, then over to North Kennebago. This hike was more herd path/bushwack, but it was still easy to follow. A Ragu jar canister for a register and Steve has #99! One to go. Followed a slightly different herd path down to the ATV trail and out to the car. Headed out to get to Snow-Cupsuptic. There is new logging in the area but we were able to drive all the way in without having to park on the "main" road. The trail follows logging roads and then herd paths. There is a cairn and arrow showing the way. The herd path we followed (well established) goes up past the moose carcass (See Tim's report for pictures) and soon Steve was signing in for NUMBER 100!!!.
Congratulations Steve, and thanks for another great weekend, with great weather, and great company. Only #87 for Karen and I so now you'll have to go back to some of them again
Steve also finished the NH100 earlier this fall on The Captain. Congratulations on this accomplishment also.
Ken
. The gate is open in summer, but is owned by a private club which uses the area for hunting we think. Luckily, the park was just opening and for 13$ Canadian we entered on the Chemin Gosford which we followed without incident to the parking area. Packs on, we started the steep climb up the ATV trail. We arrived at the boundary swath and headed to the peak. Lots of salt licks and blinds on the Canadian side, but thankfully nothing by small game in season. The swath alone is worth the trip. Sort of like a reverse, Great Wall of China. Easy trip to the peak, sign in and Steve is at #96. (Was it called Panther at one time?) Reverse, and back to the US. Bit longer getting back through customs, but no issues.Our next stop was Snow-Chain of Ponds. Took the old logging/ATV road which starts just up from the parking lot after crossing the bridge. Gradual and easy walk. Some mud higher up but it was easy to avoid. We bypassed the Snow Pond trail and opted to stay on the road to the upper part of the trail. We met a couple (only others we saw in 2 days) coming out. They were happy to follow the road and avoid the very wet and muddy trail. Up the trail to the summit, and Steve is at #97. Summit is like a garbage area. Remnants from the tower and cabin everywhere. Register is in a bat box. If you are going there in the near future it (register) was down to the last page so a new one would be great. We went down the same way, but did do the short (from the logging road) hike into the pond. Wet and muddy but easy to avoid and you still get the view of the pond.
Day 2-Got up early and we were at Whitecap and North Kennebago by 7:30. Roads in, were in good shape and would be passable with any car (lower clearance vehicles would need more caution but would still be ok). Long way in on dirt roads (26 miles or so).
Another ATV/Trail to follow. Some water and mud down low but it was avoidable. We went to the right at the junction to do Whitecap first. Following the ATV trail to it's end you begin a short bushwack on well established herd paths to the summit which were easy to follow. Steve's #98 down.
Back the way we came to the intersection of the ATV and herd path, then over to North Kennebago. This hike was more herd path/bushwack, but it was still easy to follow. A Ragu jar canister for a register and Steve has #99! One to go. Followed a slightly different herd path down to the ATV trail and out to the car. Headed out to get to Snow-Cupsuptic. There is new logging in the area but we were able to drive all the way in without having to park on the "main" road. The trail follows logging roads and then herd paths. There is a cairn and arrow showing the way. The herd path we followed (well established) goes up past the moose carcass (See Tim's report for pictures) and soon Steve was signing in for NUMBER 100!!!.
Congratulations Steve, and thanks for another great weekend, with great weather, and great company. Only #87 for Karen and I so now you'll have to go back to some of them again
Steve also finished the NH100 earlier this fall on The Captain. Congratulations on this accomplishment also.
Ken
