A Great North Woods Trifecta

[Snowflea]

Sept. 18-20... A rather serendipitous 3 days of late summer fun in the North Country.

Day 1: Kilkenny Ridge traverse
Day 2: Mahoosuc traverse
Day 3: Grafton Loop

93 miles of sublime views, mud, wet rocks, slimy roots, blowdowns, bog bridges, moose droppings, quiet solitude, birch forests, spongy pine needles, hooting owls, happy thru-hikers, and mountains I hadn't climbed in years.

It was a blast.

Report here: http://runsuerun.blogspot.com/2011/09/great-north-woods-trifecta.html

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

93 miles ...

That's a lot of miles in three days!!

 

[ksearl]

Wow - Very nice! So many miles in only 3 days! Looks like some nice trails up there. I like the "register samplings" too.

Thanks for a great blog post!

Karl

 

[RoySwkr]

That's a lot of miles in three days!!

Not for her - that's only one day's worth

I think I could do it in 10 days if spaced over 3 weeks

 

[una_dogger]

93 miles of sublime views, mud, wet rocks, slimy roots, blowdowns, bog bridges, moose droppings, quiet solitude, birch forests, spongy pine needles, hooting owls, happy thru-hikers, and mountains I hadn't climbed in years.

It was a blast.

Report here: http://runsuerun.blogspot.com/2011/09/great-north-woods-trifecta.html

Love your attitude, Sue!
It's always nice to revisit special places, and as usual, you went "large" on the special

 

[J&J]

Now that is some hiking! Isn't SRW one of the best peaks around? Very cool mountain.

 

[una_dogger]

Now that is some hiking! Isn't SRW one of the best peaks around? Very cool mountain.

I agree! And I love that it's far from the trailheads!!!

 

[yogi]

Thanks for the great report!
When did you traverse the Killkenny Ridge in the 90's?
It's a stretch but you may be able to help me anwser a question I have had since I climbed Waumbek in 1995.

 

[leaf]

..rockin'!

 

[Snowflea]

Agree - Sunday River Whitecap was really, really nice! And the day I did it, there was a thick undercast - I was "above the clouds" and the only one on the mountain... and trail for that matter!

I liked climbing Old Speck from the Grafton Loop Trail because it was way more gradual and "spongy" as compared to the AT from Grafton Notch. The glacial erratic about a mile below East Baldpate was cool, too. That's one big rock.

Forgot to mention that there is a new, 1.8 mile loop - the Woodsum Spur Trail - off/around the summit of Puzzle Mountain that looked interesting. It just opened this year.

Lots of good info at the MATC site: http://www.matc.org/GraftonLoopTrail.htm

Yogi, my last full Kilkenny traverse was probably in 1997 (?), but I have been up there many times doing Waumbek and Cabot (for the GRID and just because) as well as the NE & NH 100 Highest peaks. Have we crossed paths?

 

[HAMTERO]

Hey, almost was there!

LG4 and I hiked into Unknown Pond Sunday evening so we got sorta close to seeing you. That would have been funny! All we did was the Horn Monday but he is only 3 and on his 2nd backcountry camping trip. We had a blast. Cool TR and nice to see what you are up to.

Lloyd

 

[natron]

trifecta?

u betcha! I've hiked just about all those trails piecemeal, hard to wrap my brain around doing all 93 miles in 3 days!! so... what did u do on the 4th day?

 

[Snowflea]

LG3, So bummed to have missed you and LG4 after being SO close. How did the little feller enjoy his night at Unknown Pond? Must have been a really cool experience with him. If he walked all the way to the pond on his own, then we are impressed!

so... what did u do on the 4th day?

The obvious: slept in and had a large breakfast.

 

[HAMTERO]

We didn't start up till after 5 so I hauled him although he was game. He did walk from the campsite to the horn except the last bit. We camped there a couple of nights cause he is way into fire. I'll send you a pic.

 

[forestgnome]

nice! peaked my interest in SRW....been wanting to hike that area soon

 

[Maddy]

Really enjoyed this. I like your blog to. Can't wait to read more of it.

 

[eddie]

Great report and love the outfit in your photo at Grafton Notch, very trail stylish!

 

[timmus]

IMO, one million time more interesting than a prezzi t ! Thanks for sharing !

That trio could become a classic... you could be copied

 

[Tim Seaver]

That's an Awesome Threesome, to be sure. Nicely done, Sue!