Bigelow information

[chinooktrail]

I am interested in doing an overnight to finally get the Bigelow Mountains finished.

This is a VERY long story, but at the hardened old age of 13 I attempted (with 5 unsuspecting friends) to cross from Stratton to Caratunk as a day hike. Needless to say, it didn't end up as planned. I believe I took a few years off both my parent's lives while they waited for us, and we were finally reuinited in Farmington...

All of those friends hiked with me on other trips, much to my amazement.

This time I would like to try it as a backpack trip, with either one or two overnites. I would also like to try this in winter, late February or early March.

Many people have told me that these are their favorite Maine peaks. I would like to see them in a differnt sort of light than that one long ago ill fated and extremely poorly planned trip. (For one thing, we will not be going to the midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Magic Lantern in Bridgeton the night before!)

Any information on the current shelter situation or better winter routes etc... would be greatly appreciated.

This is not only a revenge trip for me, but a bit of a revenge trip for my sister Mary Lou. I may be leaving a few of her ashes behind on this one...

No one could tell the 'Bigelow story' quite like her...

 

[RoySwkr]

I've been there in summer/fall only but the geography should be the same

It's a long way to Caratunk and they don't run the ferry in winter, would you accept stopping at Long Falls Dam Road (still a long car shuttle)?

Camping in Bigelow preserve is restricted to designated sites and numbers, not sure if there is a problem getting sites in winter

Shelters at Horns Pond and just beyond Little Bigelow but Avery leanto was removed now just a campsite

 

[Mad Townie]

Roy's right, it's a haul-and-a-half to Caratunk. The two Bigelow 4K's (West and Avery) can be done in a serious day in winter, but it's so much nicer to stay overnight at Horns Pond. February/March will give you enough daylight to really enjoy it. Depending on the weather, a tent can be much more comfortable than the shelters.

A great choice for a winter trip!

 

[Raymond]

I have a Bigelow question I may as well drop in here. Regarding Horns Pond Peak, does the Appalachian Trail go right over its top? I don’t recall this three-thousand footer at all from our hike in September 2002, but if I can claim credit for having bagged the peak, I wouldn’t mind doing so (without having to lie or exaggerate about it, natch — I’m not trying to cheat).

 

[marchowes]

South horn yes, North horn no. South horn is the one you "need" for the list.

..and the other peak on the other side of the pond the AT kinda goes over it, there is a sort of rocky outcrop that a very very short (like 10 feet) path to it.

 

[Raymond]

Yeah, it was the one on the other side of the pond I was interested in. When my ladyfriend and I climbed much of the mountain on September 12, 2002, we followed the Appalachian Trail from the road off Route 27 all the way to Avery Peak, taking the spur trail to North Horn on the way. I made sure I took photos on North Horn, South Horn, West Peak, and Avery Peak. I just didn’t know at the time that there was also a mountain called Horns Pond Peak that we may or may not have hit the summit of. It wasn’t named on my map.

We descended on the Firewarden Trail.

Last Saturday I discovered there is a 3000-footer called Horns Pond Peak. I have no memory of it at all, so I can’t say if I hit the actual high point or not. Ordinarily, when I know I’m near a summit, I make sure I step on the high point if I can figure out where it is (as we all know, it’s not always obvious). Horns Pond Peak, not being on my map, passed by unnoticed.

Is it open? You said there’s a rocky outcrop, so it could be that I went over to that. If it was just a random spot in the woods, I’m sure I wouldn’t have noticed it. I’ll probably end up going back to make sure, unless I can convince myself I was there. Is there a view across to North Horn? That almost rings a bell, but maybe that’s wishful thinking.

Does it count if you climb a mountain and don’t realize it?

 

[RoySwkr]

Last Saturday I discovered there is a 3000-footer called Horns Pond Peak. I have no memory of it at all, so I can’t say if I hit the actual high point or not. Ordinarily, when I know I’m near a summit, I make sure I step on the high point if I can figure out where it is (as we all know, it’s not always obvious). Horns Pond Peak, not being on my map, passed by unnoticed.

This has been discussed here before, perhaps you can find it with search

As I recall the consensus was it was in thick scrub not on the trail and not obvious which bump was highest, certainly that was my memory of it

 

[askus3]

Marchowes: I believe Raymond is asking for that obscure peak west of Horns Pond (not on AT) on the 3,ooo footer list, not which Horn is on the New England 100 Highest list. Yes, Roy there was a lengthy thread on the subject awhile ago.

Chinook: If you ever saw my backpack trip in 1971 in sneakers in mid-June in the Whites which was luckily successful but could have easily been a disaster (and I was 19), I can understand very easily how you could have planned on such a crazy undertaking to do the Bigelow Range from Stratton to Caratunk at the age of 13 in one day. Actually, I can't bellieve your parents even considered letting you swallow that much but I've told my parents some crazy plans who were for the most part more ignorant than I was in what I was trying to do. I'd love to hear about how far you actually got in another thread.

By the way, for my 1971 venture - see: this! Actually, that might make an interesting thread - the mistrials and horrendous plans of the inexperienced and what we've learned from these potential disasters. For the most part all of us on this board are now seasoned and experienced and we kind of are saddened when we hear of a mishap in the Whites or other mountain ranges, but I look back and wonder how many of us could also be on that mishap list due to our own cockiness, inexperience or ill planning. So when we hear of a tragedy let us remember our own experience before we play Monday morning quarterback. Please satrt another thread on this subject if you wish to as opposed to following the latter part of this post away from the original intent of this thread. Sorry if I went on a tangent.

For the original discussion, I second the idea of a two day backpack:
Day 1: Up to Horns Pond.
Day 2: Over North Horn, West Peak & (if time permits) Avery Peak and down the firewardens Trail, to complete the loop. Find out from others if Stratton Pond Road is plowed.

 

[Raymond]

Yep. I saw it on the Three-Thousand Footer list, checked the coördinates on a map, and wondered if I’d gone over the tippy-top point or not. I didn’t want to count it as climbed unless I knew for sure, and with Roy’s info I guess I know for sure; I’ll have to go back. I missed that earlier thread.

 

[Mad Townie]

Find out from others if Stratton Pond Road is plowed.

Probably not, but even so it's not a bad walk or ski.

 

[chinooktrail]

Yeah, I guess my dad either had faith in me that I knew what I was doing or else he wanted me to learn from my mistakes. We grew up having to figure a lot out on our own.

Once I finally get through this hike I will post the trail reports for both hikes.

Since MEB and Little Sister will be on this trip I know I will be successful!!

 

[rup]

Is that an UFO in the middle of Pix #17?

 

[askus3]

Rup - you are not the first to ask about that speck in the photo! I didn't notice it until it was brought to my attention. Maybe it was a humongous black fly that was bothering the heck out of us.

 

[chinooktrail]

Askus3, I loved the pix, thanks so much for posting them.

I was out at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City all last week. Felt like a kid in a candy store with all the amazing clothing/equipment/gear/guys/'stuff' to look at.

I was looking at your photos and love the one of the two of you with your gear, and the comparison to the gear we have now. Hiking in Converse All Stars, huge cotton sleeping bags, external frame packs, jeans et all. Just fantastic.

I can't wait to start planning this trip out, but I guess I have been planning it for almost 30 years...