AT from Three Mile Road to Cummins Pond Road

[Mohamed Ellozy]

On Saturday we are planning to hike the AT from Three Mile Road to Cummins Pond Road, going over Moose Mountain and Holt's Ledge. The WMG mentions two streams on the Moose Mountain Trail: Mink Brook near Three Mile Road and Hewes Brook near Goose Pond Road. After the recent floods, are either likely to be a problem? And what about the "beaver flowage" on the Holt's Ledge Trail just north of Goose Pond Road?

Thanks!!

 

[jn316]

The Mink Brook crossing is within minutes of your start, so you'll know right away. It's fairly narrow, but could run deep. A couple of sturdy trash bags could be all the waders you'll need. Hewes Brook should be less of a problem.
The south end of the Holts trail could be from squishy to water.

 

[Dalraida]

Wasser

There is a puncheon crossing of Mink Brook on the AT, but to avoid Mink Brook, park at the small lot 250 meters east of the AT crossing on Three Mile. There is a new trail that will connect with the old woods road (Harris Trail), Turn right at the woods road and it will take you back to the AT where you turn left to go up Moose. Further on, the water crossing on Holts Ledge trail is an old farm road/beaver dam combination with lots of turnpike and puncheon planks. It might be wet, but not deep. Check out the old sap evaporator pan on its side at the old farmstead, and the collection of very big sugar maples scattered throughout the woods on you way up the trail. My son and I did a size and location survey of these particular maples early this spring. Many of those qualify as record trees. They are bigger than most any old roadside maple you will ever see. The old farm had sap hauling roads running from tree to tree. You can just make out the traces of these old byways. From the dump refuse we located up in the woods, the last occupation was in the forties.

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

... but to avoid Mink Brook, park at the small lot 250 meters east of the AT crossing on Three Mile ...

Unfortunately we are redlining the AT, so that would be "cheating". But thanks for the other hints.

I wish tomorrow's weather was more promising so that we would be in a better mood to explore the old sugar maples and admire the wildflowers that we have been told to expect.