bryan
New member
date: 2/28/14
trails: bennett street, flat mountain pond trail, bushwhacks
conditions: good plowed out parking where bennett st. forks about 1.7 from whiteface intervale road. the road into the summer trailhead was packed out by snowshoes and skis. from the gate to the pond the trail had been snowmobiled leaving a good solid track the whole way. bennett street trail and gleason trail were not broken out. shortly after the upper junction with bennett street trail where flat mountain trail runs up a drainage before doubling back around a ridge line and up to the pond we shortcut right down and across the drainage picking up the trail on the other side which saved some distance. at the pond we visited the shelter then continued around the pond on the trail which was unbroken past the shelter spur. the snow has consolidated some which meant we were generally only sinking in 6-12 inches with some deeper wallows. when the trail became hard to discern we just continued north through the woods to pick up a ridge that runs south from flat mountain down to the pond. on the ridge we started to encounter deeper snow, but generally decent woods. after a couple nice birch glades the woods were consistently more scrappy, but never thick up to a spruce covered plateau with deep wind drifted and packed snow. we continued towards the summit passing through a neat tucked away swamp then made the final ascent to the summit through mostly open conifers with one band of thicker spruce to work through/around. descending we followed our tracks until just above the pond then cut down and onto the pond and hiked across it back to the trail. water crossings were all well frozen.
equipment: snowshoes.
comments: beautiful day on flat mountain. the views from the pond were fantastic and we found some decent viewpoints on the ascent of the peak as well. the snowmobile track all the way to the pond was a definite gift. that would be a long stretch of trail to break out. some very fresh moose sign high on flat mountain. cold when the wind made it through the trees, but otherwise real comfortable hiking. thanks to cynthia for a great hike.
bryan
[email protected]
trails: bennett street, flat mountain pond trail, bushwhacks
conditions: good plowed out parking where bennett st. forks about 1.7 from whiteface intervale road. the road into the summer trailhead was packed out by snowshoes and skis. from the gate to the pond the trail had been snowmobiled leaving a good solid track the whole way. bennett street trail and gleason trail were not broken out. shortly after the upper junction with bennett street trail where flat mountain trail runs up a drainage before doubling back around a ridge line and up to the pond we shortcut right down and across the drainage picking up the trail on the other side which saved some distance. at the pond we visited the shelter then continued around the pond on the trail which was unbroken past the shelter spur. the snow has consolidated some which meant we were generally only sinking in 6-12 inches with some deeper wallows. when the trail became hard to discern we just continued north through the woods to pick up a ridge that runs south from flat mountain down to the pond. on the ridge we started to encounter deeper snow, but generally decent woods. after a couple nice birch glades the woods were consistently more scrappy, but never thick up to a spruce covered plateau with deep wind drifted and packed snow. we continued towards the summit passing through a neat tucked away swamp then made the final ascent to the summit through mostly open conifers with one band of thicker spruce to work through/around. descending we followed our tracks until just above the pond then cut down and onto the pond and hiked across it back to the trail. water crossings were all well frozen.
equipment: snowshoes.
comments: beautiful day on flat mountain. the views from the pond were fantastic and we found some decent viewpoints on the ascent of the peak as well. the snowmobile track all the way to the pond was a definite gift. that would be a long stretch of trail to break out. some very fresh moose sign high on flat mountain. cold when the wind made it through the trees, but otherwise real comfortable hiking. thanks to cynthia for a great hike.
bryan
[email protected]
