BIGEarl
Well-known member
May 10, 2014: Cabot
Trails: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Summits: Cabot
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
Plan A for the day was The Wildcats. We arrived for the planned start but the weather was uncooperative. We decided to wait for the rain to at least let up a little, it was really coming down and neither of us was interested in starting under the prevailing conditions. We checked the forecasts and radar images. It looked like in an hour conditions would improve. We waited and eventually decided to abandon our Plan A and go for Plan B; Cabot. With that decision we started the drive to Berlin Fish Hatchery and our alternate hike. The drive time gave the weather adequate time to come around and we arrived to the trailhead with good conditions; the rain had stopped and the clouds were breaking up a little. We took care of our final hike preparation and got started.
The early part of the hike is along an old woods road following York Pond Trail and soon changing to Bunnell Notch Trail. There are small muddy areas along the way that are relatively easy to get around; but from experience it’s probably best not to go straight across. A short distance before leaving the road and starting the climb we crossed the largest stream for the day. The usual crossing location is completely under water and we went a short distance upstream to use a couple logs as a bridge for crossing to the left bank.
After leaving the woods road the trail continued clear and dry. There is very little mud along the way. Stream crossings were all small and easy rock-hops. We were enjoying warm conditions (maybe a little too warm for our clothing) and sun. There were still plenty of clouds that occasionally blocked the sun but we were enjoying a good day, much different from the way it started.
Approaching Bunnell Notch and the junction with Kilkenny Ridge Trail we started to encounter increasing amounts of ice on the trail. Spotty at first it soon became a general covering and we pulled out the MICROSpikes (wet ice is really slippery). As soon as the ice arrived it cleared and within a couple hundred yards we were again on bare, generally dry ground. I was expecting the ice to return once we reached the junction with the abandoned Mt. Cabot Trail but when we arrived there was no ice at all; off came the MICROSpikes and we started for the summit.
Roughly a third of the way through this upper climb the ice returned and we again brought out the MICROSpikes. The added traction was needed for the remainder of the climb. On our way through we stopped at Bunnell Rock to check out the views to Franconia Ridge and a number of closer peaks. We were surrounded by snow and ice but the lower elevations were really greening up.
Back on the trail and back in the climb we headed to Cabot Cabin and the summit a short distance beyond. As we climbed the monorail slowly became more significant and more of a test. We did not bring snowshoes and I don’t thing they would have been helpful for the hike. Certainly they would not have helped on the way to Cabot Cabin but past the cabin they might have saved a couple postholes. Rotting snow conditions are tough even on a good day. We cruised past the Cabot Cabin getting a couple pictures on our way through and continued to the summit. From the cabin to the summit is a relatively short section that is still holding some snow. Stay on the tracked route and it’s pretty easy to stay on top of the snow. Drift off either side and you’re probably going to posthole at least knee-deep and in some areas much deeper. As usual there are a number of unrelated routes all heading to the summit from Cabot Cabin and it’s a small trick to pick the one that is the most popular (least subject to postholing). We stayed focused on the routes and had a pretty easy time heading to the summit stick.
At the summit we got the usual pictures and (of course) Sue made a friend. A snowman was hanging out a short distance from the former location of the summit sign. I’m still wondering why someone thought the sign needed to come down, and what authority he/she had to remove it. Oh well.
With the summit visit done and the snowman creation standing to greet the next visitors we set off on our exit hike. The MICROSpikes stayed in place all of the way down past Bunnell Notch and through the ice we encountered approaching the trail junction. When we eventually stopped to retire the light traction we knew they were coming off for the final time. Once we hit clear trail conditions it was an easy cruise back to the truck. We snapped a couple pictures on the way back to the woods road, revisited the log bridge at the large crossing, and finished with a generally dry walk out to the truck.
The day didn’t start as planned and we didn’t complete the hike we had planned, but in the end it was a very good day in the mountains. Thanks Sue, I really hope there are more just like this one to enjoy.
I’ve posted some pictures from the day.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
Trails: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Summits: Cabot
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
Plan A for the day was The Wildcats. We arrived for the planned start but the weather was uncooperative. We decided to wait for the rain to at least let up a little, it was really coming down and neither of us was interested in starting under the prevailing conditions. We checked the forecasts and radar images. It looked like in an hour conditions would improve. We waited and eventually decided to abandon our Plan A and go for Plan B; Cabot. With that decision we started the drive to Berlin Fish Hatchery and our alternate hike. The drive time gave the weather adequate time to come around and we arrived to the trailhead with good conditions; the rain had stopped and the clouds were breaking up a little. We took care of our final hike preparation and got started.
The early part of the hike is along an old woods road following York Pond Trail and soon changing to Bunnell Notch Trail. There are small muddy areas along the way that are relatively easy to get around; but from experience it’s probably best not to go straight across. A short distance before leaving the road and starting the climb we crossed the largest stream for the day. The usual crossing location is completely under water and we went a short distance upstream to use a couple logs as a bridge for crossing to the left bank.
After leaving the woods road the trail continued clear and dry. There is very little mud along the way. Stream crossings were all small and easy rock-hops. We were enjoying warm conditions (maybe a little too warm for our clothing) and sun. There were still plenty of clouds that occasionally blocked the sun but we were enjoying a good day, much different from the way it started.
Approaching Bunnell Notch and the junction with Kilkenny Ridge Trail we started to encounter increasing amounts of ice on the trail. Spotty at first it soon became a general covering and we pulled out the MICROSpikes (wet ice is really slippery). As soon as the ice arrived it cleared and within a couple hundred yards we were again on bare, generally dry ground. I was expecting the ice to return once we reached the junction with the abandoned Mt. Cabot Trail but when we arrived there was no ice at all; off came the MICROSpikes and we started for the summit.
Roughly a third of the way through this upper climb the ice returned and we again brought out the MICROSpikes. The added traction was needed for the remainder of the climb. On our way through we stopped at Bunnell Rock to check out the views to Franconia Ridge and a number of closer peaks. We were surrounded by snow and ice but the lower elevations were really greening up.
Back on the trail and back in the climb we headed to Cabot Cabin and the summit a short distance beyond. As we climbed the monorail slowly became more significant and more of a test. We did not bring snowshoes and I don’t thing they would have been helpful for the hike. Certainly they would not have helped on the way to Cabot Cabin but past the cabin they might have saved a couple postholes. Rotting snow conditions are tough even on a good day. We cruised past the Cabot Cabin getting a couple pictures on our way through and continued to the summit. From the cabin to the summit is a relatively short section that is still holding some snow. Stay on the tracked route and it’s pretty easy to stay on top of the snow. Drift off either side and you’re probably going to posthole at least knee-deep and in some areas much deeper. As usual there are a number of unrelated routes all heading to the summit from Cabot Cabin and it’s a small trick to pick the one that is the most popular (least subject to postholing). We stayed focused on the routes and had a pretty easy time heading to the summit stick.
At the summit we got the usual pictures and (of course) Sue made a friend. A snowman was hanging out a short distance from the former location of the summit sign. I’m still wondering why someone thought the sign needed to come down, and what authority he/she had to remove it. Oh well.
With the summit visit done and the snowman creation standing to greet the next visitors we set off on our exit hike. The MICROSpikes stayed in place all of the way down past Bunnell Notch and through the ice we encountered approaching the trail junction. When we eventually stopped to retire the light traction we knew they were coming off for the final time. Once we hit clear trail conditions it was an easy cruise back to the truck. We snapped a couple pictures on the way back to the woods road, revisited the log bridge at the large crossing, and finished with a generally dry walk out to the truck.
The day didn’t start as planned and we didn’t complete the hike we had planned, but in the end it was a very good day in the mountains. Thanks Sue, I really hope there are more just like this one to enjoy.
I’ve posted some pictures from the day.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
