elvios lincoln
New member
Elvios Lincoln’s Maine Adventure: August 3rd 2007
Expansion of topic in my Rangeley Stratton Post.
3. Notes on a Mt Redington Bushwhack from South Crocker:
August 3rd was the last day of my 4 day section hike between Rangeley and Stratton. I stayed at the Crocker Cirque tent site the night before. This is a nice campsite camp-site set in an area of birch, striped maple and other hardwoods. There is a good water supply, some open sky, and a decent privy. I knew that thunderstorms were due in the afternoon so I got an early start from the campsite. I was on South Crocker at about 7:30AM. I transferred some emergency items from my heavy back-pack to a fanny pack and set off for Redington per directions I had found via the VFTT website.
I took the best herd path off the summit which started left and quickly jogged sharp right. The herd path immediately crossed a cut boundary line about 4 feet wide. I suppose this was the AT right of way border. The herd path could be followed with care. There were occasional faded orange ribbons, that I found very useful. I probably would have bailed without them. I was hiking alone and did not want to be stuck in the deep when the thunderstorms hit. The herd path continued to drop elevation until it hit a large clear-cut. The herd path broke into the clearing near its left edge, as I faced it. I noted an orange ribbon marking the herd path, as I looked back at it from the clearing. I followed sings of disturbance in the low brush and was again rewarded with a few widely scattered orange ribbons. This took me even closer to the left edge of the clearing. It was quick to cross the clearing, perhaps 100 yards. The side of the clear-cut opposite the Crocker herd-path is bordered by a very recent logging road. There was a large cairn near where I stepped out of the clearing onto this road. I went left, up the hill, on this large logging road. My directions said to look for another herd path on the right, marked by a blue ribbon. I soon came to a herd path on the right marked by a blue and orange ribbon. I followed this path. It was slow going. I soon found pink-orange spray paint marking the herd path. Again, I was thankful as it was an indication that I was on the right path, because every once in awhile another fainter herd path seemed to cross the one I followed. After some time the pink-orange spray paint went right while a distinct herd path kept going to the left. I tried following the paint. There was know herd path this time and I noticed that the paint was not easy to see in both directions of travel. After some time I gave up and went back to the distinct herd path, that had diverged from the paint path. I followed the heard path and it eventually broke into an overgrown logging road. Where the herd path and the overgrown logging road met there was an orange ribbon. This overgrown logging road went straight up the hill to the summit. The antenna has been re-erected and there was a pretty good view from a seat someone had made of stones. The trip over took 1 hr and 5 minutes from South Crocker. I signed the summit register, had something to eat and started back retracing my steps. I almost lost the herd path once on the Redington side of the clear-cut and once on the South Crocker side. Each time I was able to get on track. I was back on South Crocker in about an hour. My forearms were both streaked with blood from numerous run-ins with spruce and fir. (Long sleeves would have been a good idea.)
In retrospect, I wonder about the rough herd path that I followed up Redington. As I said I took a right off the new logging road bordering the clear-cut, when I saw the blue ribbon marking the herd path start. I wonder if the overgrown logging road, that I eventually found near the summit, may have met the new logging at some point. That definitely would make things easier. I heard rumors that a windmill farm may be coming to Redington. I hope the AMC does not get in the way of this one. When you consider the evils of energy seeing a windmill from the AT is the lesser of many greater issues. The trail from South Crocker over North Crocker and out to Rt 27 was long and DRY. I was hearing thunder and seeing ominous clouds building all afternoon. It got very hot and humid. I started walking, with traffic, toward Stratton with my hitching thumb out. I walked about 2 miles nursing the last of my water. During that time I was passed by all manner of SUV and minivan sporting kayaks and mountain bikes. Finally a young laborer on his way home from work picked me up in his beat-up pick-up truck. I had to sit with the chain-saw and fuel, but was grateful. About the time I got back to the Stratton Motel, all hell broke loose. Rain, Hail and lightening strikes!. The grass behind the bar next to the hotel caught fire after one strike. The rain deluge quickly extinguished things. All and all, a great day on the trail.
Happy Trails
Expansion of topic in my Rangeley Stratton Post.
3. Notes on a Mt Redington Bushwhack from South Crocker:
August 3rd was the last day of my 4 day section hike between Rangeley and Stratton. I stayed at the Crocker Cirque tent site the night before. This is a nice campsite camp-site set in an area of birch, striped maple and other hardwoods. There is a good water supply, some open sky, and a decent privy. I knew that thunderstorms were due in the afternoon so I got an early start from the campsite. I was on South Crocker at about 7:30AM. I transferred some emergency items from my heavy back-pack to a fanny pack and set off for Redington per directions I had found via the VFTT website.
I took the best herd path off the summit which started left and quickly jogged sharp right. The herd path immediately crossed a cut boundary line about 4 feet wide. I suppose this was the AT right of way border. The herd path could be followed with care. There were occasional faded orange ribbons, that I found very useful. I probably would have bailed without them. I was hiking alone and did not want to be stuck in the deep when the thunderstorms hit. The herd path continued to drop elevation until it hit a large clear-cut. The herd path broke into the clearing near its left edge, as I faced it. I noted an orange ribbon marking the herd path, as I looked back at it from the clearing. I followed sings of disturbance in the low brush and was again rewarded with a few widely scattered orange ribbons. This took me even closer to the left edge of the clearing. It was quick to cross the clearing, perhaps 100 yards. The side of the clear-cut opposite the Crocker herd-path is bordered by a very recent logging road. There was a large cairn near where I stepped out of the clearing onto this road. I went left, up the hill, on this large logging road. My directions said to look for another herd path on the right, marked by a blue ribbon. I soon came to a herd path on the right marked by a blue and orange ribbon. I followed this path. It was slow going. I soon found pink-orange spray paint marking the herd path. Again, I was thankful as it was an indication that I was on the right path, because every once in awhile another fainter herd path seemed to cross the one I followed. After some time the pink-orange spray paint went right while a distinct herd path kept going to the left. I tried following the paint. There was know herd path this time and I noticed that the paint was not easy to see in both directions of travel. After some time I gave up and went back to the distinct herd path, that had diverged from the paint path. I followed the heard path and it eventually broke into an overgrown logging road. Where the herd path and the overgrown logging road met there was an orange ribbon. This overgrown logging road went straight up the hill to the summit. The antenna has been re-erected and there was a pretty good view from a seat someone had made of stones. The trip over took 1 hr and 5 minutes from South Crocker. I signed the summit register, had something to eat and started back retracing my steps. I almost lost the herd path once on the Redington side of the clear-cut and once on the South Crocker side. Each time I was able to get on track. I was back on South Crocker in about an hour. My forearms were both streaked with blood from numerous run-ins with spruce and fir. (Long sleeves would have been a good idea.)
In retrospect, I wonder about the rough herd path that I followed up Redington. As I said I took a right off the new logging road bordering the clear-cut, when I saw the blue ribbon marking the herd path start. I wonder if the overgrown logging road, that I eventually found near the summit, may have met the new logging at some point. That definitely would make things easier. I heard rumors that a windmill farm may be coming to Redington. I hope the AMC does not get in the way of this one. When you consider the evils of energy seeing a windmill from the AT is the lesser of many greater issues. The trail from South Crocker over North Crocker and out to Rt 27 was long and DRY. I was hearing thunder and seeing ominous clouds building all afternoon. It got very hot and humid. I started walking, with traffic, toward Stratton with my hitching thumb out. I walked about 2 miles nursing the last of my water. During that time I was passed by all manner of SUV and minivan sporting kayaks and mountain bikes. Finally a young laborer on his way home from work picked me up in his beat-up pick-up truck. I had to sit with the chain-saw and fuel, but was grateful. About the time I got back to the Stratton Motel, all hell broke loose. Rain, Hail and lightening strikes!. The grass behind the bar next to the hotel caught fire after one strike. The rain deluge quickly extinguished things. All and all, a great day on the trail.
Happy Trails
