buckyball1
New member
I wanted to get in one more hike before helping my youngest daughter drive across the country to a job in Oregon and wasn't in the mood for "Scar" until I return.
I headed up to Jackman last night and did a little trail recon using hints from the usual suspects PB/B&G/MMG--thanks to all. Having some info to start with is so helpful.
The info on the approach to Boundary Bald off Rt201 is still spot on. The road in as far as the fork of Notch Rd and Bald Mt Rd is in really good shape. The 0.2 miles on Notch Rd is decent. If you have a low clearance car., I'd park at 4.3 miles from 201, the intersection of Notch Rd and Trail Rd. The Trail Rd (it's about 1.4? miles up this to the actual trail) is rough and gets rougher as you go. I parked 0.2 miles up the Trail Rd (4.5 miles from 201) at a good clearing on the right after exploring 0.7 miles up it in a Forester-the road was getting really bad and is impassable by any sane person shortly beyond this point-you might get to and park at 5.0 or a bit further.
I slept in the car and was on the trail a bit before 5- cold (41), windy and overcast. The Trail Rd (badly eroded on the steep sections) passes the remains of the "warden's cabin" on the right maybe 1.1-1.2 miles from the Notch Rd and 5-6 minutes later you see the obvious signs for the summit trail on your left. The trail itself is 1.2 miles, well marked, easily followed, but not in very good shape. Erosion has taken a toll, much of the trail can be a brook bed and there is a lot of mud in spots. You pop out of the trees on the end of the ridge and can easily follow the blazes to the true summit/communication tower/gingerbread house. I know the views would be great on this ridge, but at 6 AM it was just clearing off and i saw only the top of a deck of low clouds and then some clearing as i descended--need to go back. Try to go on a dry day as i got soaked from the trail itself and "grown in" trees.
Then it was off to Coburn. The directions on PB site will get you to the approach road. I clocked it as being 10.7 miles north of the bridge in the Forks and 15.0 or 15.4? miles south of Rt 201/15 in Jackman. It obvious and is signed "Enchanted Mountain" (old ski slope). After you turn off 201, there is a fork at 0.2 miles . Do not follow the "main" road to the left, it's a newer logging road that wanders elsewhere. Go straight on the older, smaller road. You should be able to get in and park on the left about 0.5 miles from 201. There's a moderate washout at 0.6 and i decided not to try to go further as i figured it would just get worse-wrong choice if you have a 4WD high clearance vehicle. Check out the section at and just beyond this washout. If you can make it, that's the worst spot-a few other "care needed" places, but much of the road is pretty good higher up.
I walked the road in from 0.5 miles to the large clearing at 2.2 miles from 201 which has a "4-corner" intersection. You might choose to park here. At this point , I either misinterpreted or..... I went "straight" at the 4-corners to find the B&G approach taking a "left fork" with the sign for the summit. I walked for 8 minutes and my choice just seemed all wrong and was. So back to the 4-corners, followed the description in the MMG and found the overgrow trail in the clearing near the old foundations ( NW corner, 270 degrees unadjusted at start). The way up was a fun, at times steep, combo of old road, newly cut trail and old ski slopes (a black diamond?) In less than a mile, I came out at an intersection just before the first new communications installation (more on this later).
Go past the building, through the gate and you'll find a trail to the right after maybe 100-125 feet. The snowmobile trail you're on will also wind its way to the top. The trail is short, steep,narrow,not badly worn and "to the point" . It reminded me of trails in the DAKs when I started hiking there in the 70s. You soon come out at a solar array and the view tower/summit is close. Hazy, but excellent views.Better go in the next few years as the balsams are creeping ever higher.
On the descent, I came to the intersection just below the first communications building and instead of going straight across (as i came up), I turned right hoping it was the B&G route. It was a newly cut snowmobile trail which descended quickly and came out right in the large clearing at the "4-corners" near the old ski buildings-not the B&G route. If i were to go up again, this is the path i would take-much quicker. If you pass through the large clearing/4 corners from the road in, it's an overgrown road about 45 degrees to the right (headed at Coburn) as you pass through the intersection.
After looking at the maps and the B&G GPS track, it now seems clear to find their route, you turn right at the 4-corners (just like the MMG), but go a bit further on that road. However, I'd opt(YMMV) for the road i descended or the MMG route.
A good day-Scar still beckons
jim
I headed up to Jackman last night and did a little trail recon using hints from the usual suspects PB/B&G/MMG--thanks to all. Having some info to start with is so helpful.
The info on the approach to Boundary Bald off Rt201 is still spot on. The road in as far as the fork of Notch Rd and Bald Mt Rd is in really good shape. The 0.2 miles on Notch Rd is decent. If you have a low clearance car., I'd park at 4.3 miles from 201, the intersection of Notch Rd and Trail Rd. The Trail Rd (it's about 1.4? miles up this to the actual trail) is rough and gets rougher as you go. I parked 0.2 miles up the Trail Rd (4.5 miles from 201) at a good clearing on the right after exploring 0.7 miles up it in a Forester-the road was getting really bad and is impassable by any sane person shortly beyond this point-you might get to and park at 5.0 or a bit further.
I slept in the car and was on the trail a bit before 5- cold (41), windy and overcast. The Trail Rd (badly eroded on the steep sections) passes the remains of the "warden's cabin" on the right maybe 1.1-1.2 miles from the Notch Rd and 5-6 minutes later you see the obvious signs for the summit trail on your left. The trail itself is 1.2 miles, well marked, easily followed, but not in very good shape. Erosion has taken a toll, much of the trail can be a brook bed and there is a lot of mud in spots. You pop out of the trees on the end of the ridge and can easily follow the blazes to the true summit/communication tower/gingerbread house. I know the views would be great on this ridge, but at 6 AM it was just clearing off and i saw only the top of a deck of low clouds and then some clearing as i descended--need to go back. Try to go on a dry day as i got soaked from the trail itself and "grown in" trees.
Then it was off to Coburn. The directions on PB site will get you to the approach road. I clocked it as being 10.7 miles north of the bridge in the Forks and 15.0 or 15.4? miles south of Rt 201/15 in Jackman. It obvious and is signed "Enchanted Mountain" (old ski slope). After you turn off 201, there is a fork at 0.2 miles . Do not follow the "main" road to the left, it's a newer logging road that wanders elsewhere. Go straight on the older, smaller road. You should be able to get in and park on the left about 0.5 miles from 201. There's a moderate washout at 0.6 and i decided not to try to go further as i figured it would just get worse-wrong choice if you have a 4WD high clearance vehicle. Check out the section at and just beyond this washout. If you can make it, that's the worst spot-a few other "care needed" places, but much of the road is pretty good higher up.
I walked the road in from 0.5 miles to the large clearing at 2.2 miles from 201 which has a "4-corner" intersection. You might choose to park here. At this point , I either misinterpreted or..... I went "straight" at the 4-corners to find the B&G approach taking a "left fork" with the sign for the summit. I walked for 8 minutes and my choice just seemed all wrong and was. So back to the 4-corners, followed the description in the MMG and found the overgrow trail in the clearing near the old foundations ( NW corner, 270 degrees unadjusted at start). The way up was a fun, at times steep, combo of old road, newly cut trail and old ski slopes (a black diamond?) In less than a mile, I came out at an intersection just before the first new communications installation (more on this later).
Go past the building, through the gate and you'll find a trail to the right after maybe 100-125 feet. The snowmobile trail you're on will also wind its way to the top. The trail is short, steep,narrow,not badly worn and "to the point" . It reminded me of trails in the DAKs when I started hiking there in the 70s. You soon come out at a solar array and the view tower/summit is close. Hazy, but excellent views.Better go in the next few years as the balsams are creeping ever higher.
On the descent, I came to the intersection just below the first communications building and instead of going straight across (as i came up), I turned right hoping it was the B&G route. It was a newly cut snowmobile trail which descended quickly and came out right in the large clearing at the "4-corners" near the old ski buildings-not the B&G route. If i were to go up again, this is the path i would take-much quicker. If you pass through the large clearing/4 corners from the road in, it's an overgrown road about 45 degrees to the right (headed at Coburn) as you pass through the intersection.
After looking at the maps and the B&G GPS track, it now seems clear to find their route, you turn right at the 4-corners (just like the MMG), but go a bit further on that road. However, I'd opt(YMMV) for the road i descended or the MMG route.
A good day-Scar still beckons
jim
Last edited:
