Drove up Friday evening to the trailhead at north 26. It rained hard from the moment we drove through Franconia Notch. Plan was to do all of Grafton Loop Trail but work chopped one of our days in half. We waited the rain out til 7pm and hiked up to Baldpate LeanTo. There were 4 thru hikers. Camp was easy to set up in the dark and rain. The trail was really slick coming up, naturally. Woke up at 4:15 and say out and looked the moon. Sky was perfectly clear and the moon lit up the fog in the forest. Sat out for about 10-15 minutes.
Saturday- hiked out early in hopes of a 13 mile day to Stewarts Campsite just before Puzzle. The AT was in good repair going up the Baldpates. Perhaps one of my favorites but still nice and rugged terrain. The temps were great but it was quite humid. Love the lower section when you come out of the woods. The climb up West was slippery. The summit was incredible and got a nice look at Old Speck, my favorite mountain in Maine.
Long mountain was long and rugged. Lightening Ledges were fun, great views. The wilderness was cool, lots of woods walking. The late day climb up to Stewarts campsite kicked our a**es. Setting up camp was great, totally remote and no one around. It was so quiet.
Sunday- As soon as we broke camp, it started pouring. Our climb up and over Puzzle Mountain was rough. It was pouring rain and very slippery. We laughed a lot. I have gotten pretty good at recovery. We met some day hikers going up and naturally as soon as we got to the trailhead, the weather cleared. We hitched back to the car and came home early, worn out, wet and beat up pretty good. Wife started feeling cruddy on Saturday morning and is curled up on the couch with a cold.
The trail is overgrown in a lot of places, and you really have to pay attention in some spots to the blazes, esp on the summit of Puzzle. Its not rocket science, just look around and you will see blazes, they just arent always the brightest. The campsites are very basic dirt spots. Privy at Stewarts. We had fun, but it was tough. Really want to go back Columbus Weekend for a short day 2 nighter over Stowe, Sunday River, and Old Speck. Just seems like one of those trails you can really take your time on. Lots of swimming holes!!!!! Lane Campsite is primo! Could have spent the whole day there.
Saturday- hiked out early in hopes of a 13 mile day to Stewarts Campsite just before Puzzle. The AT was in good repair going up the Baldpates. Perhaps one of my favorites but still nice and rugged terrain. The temps were great but it was quite humid. Love the lower section when you come out of the woods. The climb up West was slippery. The summit was incredible and got a nice look at Old Speck, my favorite mountain in Maine.
Long mountain was long and rugged. Lightening Ledges were fun, great views. The wilderness was cool, lots of woods walking. The late day climb up to Stewarts campsite kicked our a**es. Setting up camp was great, totally remote and no one around. It was so quiet.
Sunday- As soon as we broke camp, it started pouring. Our climb up and over Puzzle Mountain was rough. It was pouring rain and very slippery. We laughed a lot. I have gotten pretty good at recovery. We met some day hikers going up and naturally as soon as we got to the trailhead, the weather cleared. We hitched back to the car and came home early, worn out, wet and beat up pretty good. Wife started feeling cruddy on Saturday morning and is curled up on the couch with a cold.
The trail is overgrown in a lot of places, and you really have to pay attention in some spots to the blazes, esp on the summit of Puzzle. Its not rocket science, just look around and you will see blazes, they just arent always the brightest. The campsites are very basic dirt spots. Privy at Stewarts. We had fun, but it was tough. Really want to go back Columbus Weekend for a short day 2 nighter over Stowe, Sunday River, and Old Speck. Just seems like one of those trails you can really take your time on. Lots of swimming holes!!!!! Lane Campsite is primo! Could have spent the whole day there.
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