Cabot and Waumbek in a day?

[sjk]

I'm heading to NH for the weekend soon with the goal of finishing up the 48. My three remaining peaks are Owls Head, Cabot and Waumbek.

With only two full hiking days I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to do Cabot and Waumbek together in a day? I know a section of trail and/or a trailhead is closed due to private property problems so I'm leery of planning a route until I know for sure.

So in short: Is there a way to do Cabot and Waumbek as a single hike? Would I be better off making it two separate hikes on the same day?

And, for tons of extra credit and a free lollipop: Is there any way to do them both in a single hike, starting and finishing in the same place?

For some general guideline, my fitness is good and I would consider any plan that covers less than about 25 miles or so.

 

[Becca M]

couple thoughts...

I'm heading to NH for the weekend soon with the goal of finishing up the 48. My three remaining peaks are Owls Head, Cabot and Waumbek.

With only two full hiking days I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to do Cabot and Waumbek together in a day? I know a section of trail and/or a trailhead is closed due to private property problems so I'm leery of planning a route until I know for sure.

So in short: Is there a way to do Cabot and Waumbek as a single hike? Would I be better off making it two separate hikes on the same day?

And, for tons of extra credit and a free lollipop: Is there any way to do them both in a single hike, starting and finishing in the same place?

For some general guideline, my fitness is good and I would consider any plan that covers less than about 25 miles or so.

HI! Cabot & Waumbeck are VERY doable in a day if you're pretty strong. For Cabot, you need to avoid the Mt. Cabot trail from the south/Jefferson area. I don't think there's much advantage to a traverse (i've done that, too) b/c you seem to lose a lot of elevation (i don't have the maps in front of me) in the notch. The carspot is a PAIN!!!! I would recommend 2 separate hikes from the regular/most popular routes - Cabot from the Berlin Fish Hatchery and Waumbeck from Jefferson/Starr King. That way, if you feel tired, you are not committed to completing a traverse.... Just my 2cents.....

 

[bignslow]

I think you'd be better off doing it as 2 separate hikes (especially if you don't have a car to spot).

Mohammed has a good page about the quickest approaches to each of the peaks:
http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/northern.html

A. Lavigne has some good info on his site for a full traverse which looks like it is ~16 miles w/ ~5k gain (1 way) to the Cabot cabin along the ridge

http://alavigne.net/Outdoors/ImageGallery/2006/10-07-08-Waumbeck-Cabot/index.jsp?navpage=1

Taking the numbers from Mohammed's site it looks like the traverse and doing the hikes separately is about the same amount of distance and gain (not accounting for the descent of Cabot on the traverse)

 

[peakbagger]

Without a car spot trying to make it a loop on marked trails is not practical as it requires going over the Weeks range twice. You are better off doing two hikes in one day. Start at York Pond real early, bag Cabot via Bunnel Notch Trail, then drive around through Berlin Gorham to Jefferson NH and hike Cabot. If you dont know the roads or location of the officially closed trail in Lancaster you are proably better off skipping that option. Right now its light from 5 am to 9 Pm so you have plenty of daylight. Do note the guide makes reference to the gate on York Pond Road open at 7 AM, unless there is something unusual going on, its always open so you can go in early.

 

[TEO]

For Cabot, you need to avoid the Mt. Cabot trail from the south/Jefferson area.

As I understand it, you don't need to avoid the Mt. Cabot trail from the South, however, the Forest Service no longer maintains the southern section and the AMC discourages its use. On the other hand, it is still legal to hike that section--the easement still exists--and a number of people even encourage it's use to preserve the easement. Last I heard, it still sees a fair amount of use and parking is not an issue.

If you're going to hike from the York Pond side, I would strongly encourage you to make a loop from Cabot over the Bulge and the Horn--the latter is an outstanding summit--and down
via Unknown Pond.

 

[BIGEarl]

I've done this pair as two separate hikes in one day multiple times. Once I hiked the Mt. Cabot Trail but all other times I have hiked from York Pond Road. I see little difference between the two approaches. The drive time to York Pond Road is greater but I used it as a time to refuel.

Enjoy the hikes.

 

[una_dogger]

It's definately possible, i have done it many times in various ways.

I have used the old Mt Cabot trail in the past and hiking both peaks from the south side is the easiest way to go BUT I don't bother with the Mt Cabot trail
Anymore because my feeling is that I am going to potentially miss getting the peak of I get turned back at the trail head.

Although I think IMHO the best way to get both peaks is as a traverse of horn, bulge, cabot, terrace, the weeks and starr king -- all peaks count on one list or another-- it's about a 12-14 hour day of hiking plus car spots.

With one car, if I were interested in purely peakbagging I would tag Cabot first then drive around and tag wambuek via Starr king.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

As I understand it, you don't need to avoid the Mt. Cabot trail from the South, however, the Forest Service no longer maintains the southern section and the AMC discourages its use. On the other hand, it is still legal to hike that section--the easement still exists--and a number of people even encourage it's use to preserve the easement. Last I heard, it still sees a fair amount of use and parking is not an issue.

If you're going to hike from the York Pond side, I would strongly encourage you to make a loop from Cabot over the Bulge and the Horn--the latter is an outstanding summit--and down
via Unknown Pond.

The old route via Heath Gate (west end of Bunnell Notch Trail) is still risky should you encounter the irate land owner, who has a record for unpredictable behavior, including threatening others with a gun.

I recommend Unknown Pond Trail from Mill Brook Road out of Stark on Rt. 110 to the north, which at 10.0 miles RT is only 0.6 miles longer than the RT from the Fish Hatchery, but a shorter drive. And, you still pick up the Horn (with a short side trip) and the Bulge, two NEHH peaks. Reload with a couple slices of the best pizza in the Whites at the Country Store at the corner of Rts. 2 and 115A in Jefferson before beginning the 7.2-mile RT to Waumbek via Starr King right nearby.

So, total miles for the two separate trips up Waumbek and Cabot are about the same as for Owls Head, depending on whether you use all trails, or the Black Pond or Fisherperson's bushwhacks (18.2 vs ~17.0 mi, respectively).

 

[sjk]

Thanks, everyone! I posted my question and then was away from the computer for awhile, but I greatly appreciate everyone's input. Looks like I'll do two hikes in the day....and finally get the 48 out of the way. I've been stuck on 45 for over a year as I got pulled back to some old favorites with friends.

Take care-
SJK.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Thanks, everyone! I posted my question and then was away from the computer for awhile, but I greatly appreciate everyone's input. Looks like I'll do two hikes in the day....and finally get the 48 out of the way. I've been stuck on 45 for over a year as I got pulled back to some old favorites with friends.

Take care-
SJK.

Good luck, and cover up for protection against black flies, as they seem to be immune to most repellents.