Baldface Trail, Baldface Knob, Sable Mtn., Mt. Eastman

[forestgnome]

The southern leg of the BCT is 99% bare and dry all the way to the summit of South Baldface. Right at the upper junction of the Chandler Gorge Spur Trail I saw a huge, black, furry body that I thought was a bear crossing the trail...

... but it was a young bull moose, probably a 2 year-old.

...he's budding his new antlers...

I followed him for a little while, then went back to the trail. Another ten minutes up the trail I was startled by a large, adult cow moose who was snoozing next to the trail. I had been stalking a pileated, quietly creeping up the trail and listening to many different woodpeckers working the hardwoods, so when she jumped up it gave me quite a thrill.

She checked me out for a moment then began browsing...

hmmm....striped maple bark for breakfast...

she made her way across the trail and eventually wandered off...

Yay!!! Warm, snow-free hiking in the alpine zone on a clear day!

BCT is a great trail for miles of hiking above treeline...

continued...

 

[forestgnome]

a view NE toward Haystack Notch...

North Baldface summit...

I went south on Baldface Knob Trail. South Baldface looked tempting but I wanted to save time and energy for exploring Sable Mtn. and Chandler Mtn. and Mt. Eastman. Here's a view toward Baldface Knob and Mt. Eastman. The Baldfaces are a wonderful area for wildflowers.

a view toward South Baldface summit from Baldface Knob...

a beautiful stand of birch on the way toward Sable Mtn. The ground is covered with a thick mat of last year's ferns...

Over on Sable Mtn. I saw another bull moose. He quickly left when he saw me. But I was able to see that he had no ticks on him. All three moose I saw were free of ticks as far as I could see.

I found an antler from last year near a brook...

another antler, a fresh one, in a hemlock stand...

I finally found a boggy area that is shown on an old map from the '50s but is not shown on modern AMC hiking maps. Here I found my first complete set of
moose antlers, and they are fresh and free of nibbles...

From the bare slopes Mt. Eastman I should have travelled NE through the woods but instead I went back to Slippery Brook Trail and hiked down the trail. That was much harder than travelling through the hardwoods because the trail still has lots of snow.

I highly recommend the BCT in early June for the wildflowers.

happy trails

 

[MonadnockVol]

Another great TR

I always enjoy your trip reports and you must know how envious I am of your close encounters of a moose kind. I do hike by myself most of the time, I don't hum or talk to myself, etc., and I do some off trail hiking, so you think I'd have seen one by now. Maybe I should stop using that aftershave distilled from wolf urine.

On the other hand I can relate to the experience of stalking a woodpecker and finding a moose. My doctoral dissertation work was on water striders and once I was very slowly and quietly working my way up a stream looking for them. I was moving so silently that I got within three feet of a great blue heron before I flushed it. When you're looking for an insect an inch long and suddenly this huge bird takes off right in front of you, it seems as big as a 747.

- Monadnock "still mooseless" Volunteer

 

[Paradox]

I thought of you alot as I was driving up Route 16 from Berlin to Rangeley Maine. Counted 15 moose along the way, in the late evening. It took along time, as I never went over 45 mph. Great TR and pictures.

 

[rocket21]

Wow! Great trip report! Also great to know that hike is virtually snow free! How was the trail from Baldface Knob to Eastman? Still snowy/muddy?

 

[Paradox]

Over on Sable Mtn. I saw another bull moose. He quickly left when he saw me. But I was able to see that he had no ticks on him. All three moose I saw were free of ticks as far as I could see.

How do you determine this? I've heard that moose ticks get pretty big, but THAT big?

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Outstanding as always!

We love Evan's (Kevin's) Notch and the Baldies. Glad to see the moose are doing well. I love the shot of mama's face through the woods. Can't wait for the wildflowers. How were the flies? Only mildly annoying down here so far.

KDT

 

[forestgnome]

How do you determine this? I've heard that moose ticks get pretty big, but THAT big?

They get quite plump, big enough to easily see. Heartbreaking and disgusting


Rocket, the BKT did have snow south of BK, and the SBT is really tough going with deep snow about half-way up, where it goes from hardwoods to hemlocks.

There were a few very dangerous spots on the steep section just above treeline on the BCT. The snow melts from underneath due to water running down the ledges. It's easy to fall though. There's a big gash on my shin.

happy trails