Jason Berard
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- Oct 28, 2006
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This was a hike I won't soon forget for a number of reasons. Greg and I were going to do this as a Kilkenny Ridge traverse, but decided on shortening the route because we would have overnight bags on, and didn't want to overextend ourselves. My Dad was going to shuttle us from the Starr King trailhead in Jefferson where we going to end up, to our starting point for the day, the Unknown Pond trail from Mill Brook Rd. in Stark. After checking the weather forecast from NOAA, which seemed cool, but mostly good, with a slight chance for rain, we were on the road by 5am, and met my Dad at 7:15. It had rained nearly the whole time, which was our first warning that things were not going to go as planned for the day.
We hopped in his car and had a good-natured argument about politics on the way to Stark( he's a republican and I'm a democrat). We hit the trail at 8:15, and between the drizzle and the wet ferns, we were pretty wet right off the bat. By the time we got to Unknown Pond we were soaked, and were definitely having second thoughts about the feasibility of completing this trip. We plodded up the Kilkenny Ridge trail from the pond, and stopped about 3/4 of a mile up the trail to reassess our plans and have a snack. We got chilly sitting there on my sleeping pad, and decided then that, although we could finish the trip, it wouldn't be much fun we would have to come with an alternate plan. We turned on Greg's cell, and to our surprise, had a signal.
After discussing our options, we decided to drop our packs, and do the Horn, Bulge, and Cabot with a few essentials, and head back down to Mill Brook Rd. We decided we would call my Dad when we returned to our packs, and see if he could come get us. The weather didn't get any better. On the Horn we couldn't see squat, and the wind was whipping the now freezing rain parallel to to ground
Just over the Bulge we saw some bones just off the trail, and decided we would investigate on the way back. We got to Cabot, ate lunch, and got cold again. Before we headed back, we checked for a signal again, and had a couple bars, so we called my Dad and left a message for him asking him to pick us up, and telling him we'd even vote republican if he came back to pick us up! On our way back, we passed about 20 people who were planning on staying at Cabot Cabin. I think it holds a lot less than that, so I bet it was pretty cozy in there! One guy we passed, Ralph, stopped to talk, and we found out he was parked at Mill Brook Rd., and said he'd be happy to help us if we were still there when he came down the trail.
When we got to where the bones were, I did a more thorough search of the area and found ribs,vertebrae,a jaw bone, and possibly a hip bone. Given the size, they must be the remains of a moose. I decided to bring the jaw bone home for the kids, and left the rest where I found them. There was no hide, or connective tissue or anything, so I'm assuming this animal had been dead for quite a while.
We were back at our bags in short order, and off for the trailhead. Right about now, the weather took a decided turn for the better, with no more rain, and even peeks of blue sky from time to time. We got back down to the road at about 4:15 and my Dad wasn't there, so we discussed our options while having a snack, and a guy pulled up in a van with plates that read "TURKMAN" and asked us if we were fishin'. We said no, and asked how his luck had been so far, and he told us he had already snapped one pole today.
He asked if we were hiking, and we told him of our plight, and he immediately offered to give us a ride to Greg's car.
We decided I would stay in case my Dad showed up, and Greg would get the car and come back for me. I spent the next hour plus hanging out in my camp chair making coffee, and eating what was supposed to be my breakfast for the next morning( everything bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon).
It was very relaxing and I spent the time musing about our good fortune.
When Greg got back, he told me all about his ride with Tim " the turkman" from Milan. The nickname comes from his affinity for Wild Turkey whiskey. We loaded up and headed to Littleton, and called my Dad as soon as we got a signal. He hadn't even checked his messages!
Thank goodness for trail magic! On our way home we decided to stop and see WSC, and got to meet his new adopted 6 mo. old son, Theodore which was without question the highlight of the day!
This trip was a real adventure! We could have continued on, but neither of us were interested in spending a cold soggy night in the woods if we didn't have to. I want to thank Ralph for offering to help, and Tim for giving Greg a ride. He saved our butts, and we won't have to vote Republican. Most especially I want to congratulate WSC and his wife on the arrival of Theodore!!
pics here
We hopped in his car and had a good-natured argument about politics on the way to Stark( he's a republican and I'm a democrat). We hit the trail at 8:15, and between the drizzle and the wet ferns, we were pretty wet right off the bat. By the time we got to Unknown Pond we were soaked, and were definitely having second thoughts about the feasibility of completing this trip. We plodded up the Kilkenny Ridge trail from the pond, and stopped about 3/4 of a mile up the trail to reassess our plans and have a snack. We got chilly sitting there on my sleeping pad, and decided then that, although we could finish the trip, it wouldn't be much fun we would have to come with an alternate plan. We turned on Greg's cell, and to our surprise, had a signal.
After discussing our options, we decided to drop our packs, and do the Horn, Bulge, and Cabot with a few essentials, and head back down to Mill Brook Rd. We decided we would call my Dad when we returned to our packs, and see if he could come get us. The weather didn't get any better. On the Horn we couldn't see squat, and the wind was whipping the now freezing rain parallel to to ground
Just over the Bulge we saw some bones just off the trail, and decided we would investigate on the way back. We got to Cabot, ate lunch, and got cold again. Before we headed back, we checked for a signal again, and had a couple bars, so we called my Dad and left a message for him asking him to pick us up, and telling him we'd even vote republican if he came back to pick us up! On our way back, we passed about 20 people who were planning on staying at Cabot Cabin. I think it holds a lot less than that, so I bet it was pretty cozy in there! One guy we passed, Ralph, stopped to talk, and we found out he was parked at Mill Brook Rd., and said he'd be happy to help us if we were still there when he came down the trail.When we got to where the bones were, I did a more thorough search of the area and found ribs,vertebrae,a jaw bone, and possibly a hip bone. Given the size, they must be the remains of a moose. I decided to bring the jaw bone home for the kids, and left the rest where I found them. There was no hide, or connective tissue or anything, so I'm assuming this animal had been dead for quite a while.
We were back at our bags in short order, and off for the trailhead. Right about now, the weather took a decided turn for the better, with no more rain, and even peeks of blue sky from time to time. We got back down to the road at about 4:15 and my Dad wasn't there, so we discussed our options while having a snack, and a guy pulled up in a van with plates that read "TURKMAN" and asked us if we were fishin'. We said no, and asked how his luck had been so far, and he told us he had already snapped one pole today.
He asked if we were hiking, and we told him of our plight, and he immediately offered to give us a ride to Greg's car.
We decided I would stay in case my Dad showed up, and Greg would get the car and come back for me. I spent the next hour plus hanging out in my camp chair making coffee, and eating what was supposed to be my breakfast for the next morning( everything bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon).
It was very relaxing and I spent the time musing about our good fortune.
When Greg got back, he told me all about his ride with Tim " the turkman" from Milan. The nickname comes from his affinity for Wild Turkey whiskey. We loaded up and headed to Littleton, and called my Dad as soon as we got a signal. He hadn't even checked his messages!
Thank goodness for trail magic!
On our way home we decided to stop and see WSC, and got to meet his new adopted 6 mo. old son, Theodore which was without question the highlight of the day! This trip was a real adventure! We could have continued on, but neither of us were interested in spending a cold soggy night in the woods if we didn't have to. I want to thank Ralph for offering to help, and Tim for giving Greg a ride. He saved our butts, and we won't have to vote Republican. Most especially I want to congratulate WSC and his wife on the arrival of Theodore!!
pics here
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