Double Bow
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- Apr 29, 2005
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Well, the plan for Saturday had been to do Owl's Head but, the forecast was fairly lousy so, last Friday Shamie and I concocted a "Plan B" in case the weather looked less than favorable. Friday night we drove up to Lafayette CG and had set up camp and gone to bed before the rain started. When we woke up in the morning, it was still raining and so we decided not to do an 18mi hike in the rain.
Fortunately, I had checked the weather forecast for the northern areas and had seen that it was supposed to be a little better up near Berlin so, off we went to do Cabot for Shamie's 44th of the 48. Actually, the rain stopped before we left camp but we weren't sure if it would hold off.
We got to the fish hatchery and pulled into a lot that seemed to be where the Unknown Pond Trail was. There were no trail signs but there was a ranger there so I asked him. He wasn't sure either and started looking at his map. I was pretty sure that we were at the correct place and so we geared up. The ranger said he would report that a trail sign was needed there and wished us well.
The beginning of the trail was rather overgrown and kinda wet and muddy. I was itching to get climbing and get onto some drier terrain, which we eventually did. The climb was nice and was quite a bit different than the western approach on the same trail. It felt a lot like hiking in VT it was so lush. Soon, we reached Unknown Pond and we stopped to take a break, have lunch, and admire it. My socks had gotten pretty wet (do to my wearing non-waterproof trailrunners) so, I changed my socks before we left there. Soon, we were up on The Horn and I was really glad that we were there since when I was there with Gator last June, it was socked in and we didn't see a think. What an amazing view! I didn't want to leave that great spot and so I dawdled a little.
Once I got down, we buzzed over to The Bulge and stopped for half a tick before doing the climb up to Cabot's summit. All of our time on the ridge was dry with good footing. We did pass a view people on our way between the peaks but not very many.
On Cabot, we took another break and looked around a bit. I took Shamie's picture with the sign and we had a quick snack. Then, we headed over to the cabin, which I hadn't been to. I found that pretty cool and spent some time checking it out and stuff. There's a nice view just a little before the cabin and from the porch. Nearby, there's a great little ledge tht I had seen from the Horn. The views from there were great as well.
The moment of truth came when we got down to Bunnell Notch. I had wanted to take in Terrace as well but, we wanted to get to the brewwfest in Lincoln and we weren't sure we were going to make it timewise if we did Terrace. So, we saved that for another day and descended the Bunnell Notch Trail. I thought about the mishap that Sadie and I had there this winter and how different everything looked. It was amazing to see how the wide logging roads of the winter are now narrow tracks through overgrown brush!
It was a fun hike with some great views and we made the brewfest without any problems (ya' should have been there Tom!). Sure, we could have done Owl's Head as the weather did hold but, we hedged our bet and came out winners anyway.
Here are my pics!
Fortunately, I had checked the weather forecast for the northern areas and had seen that it was supposed to be a little better up near Berlin so, off we went to do Cabot for Shamie's 44th of the 48. Actually, the rain stopped before we left camp but we weren't sure if it would hold off.
We got to the fish hatchery and pulled into a lot that seemed to be where the Unknown Pond Trail was. There were no trail signs but there was a ranger there so I asked him. He wasn't sure either and started looking at his map. I was pretty sure that we were at the correct place and so we geared up. The ranger said he would report that a trail sign was needed there and wished us well.
The beginning of the trail was rather overgrown and kinda wet and muddy. I was itching to get climbing and get onto some drier terrain, which we eventually did. The climb was nice and was quite a bit different than the western approach on the same trail. It felt a lot like hiking in VT it was so lush. Soon, we reached Unknown Pond and we stopped to take a break, have lunch, and admire it. My socks had gotten pretty wet (do to my wearing non-waterproof trailrunners) so, I changed my socks before we left there. Soon, we were up on The Horn and I was really glad that we were there since when I was there with Gator last June, it was socked in and we didn't see a think. What an amazing view! I didn't want to leave that great spot and so I dawdled a little.
Once I got down, we buzzed over to The Bulge and stopped for half a tick before doing the climb up to Cabot's summit. All of our time on the ridge was dry with good footing. We did pass a view people on our way between the peaks but not very many.
On Cabot, we took another break and looked around a bit. I took Shamie's picture with the sign and we had a quick snack. Then, we headed over to the cabin, which I hadn't been to. I found that pretty cool and spent some time checking it out and stuff. There's a nice view just a little before the cabin and from the porch. Nearby, there's a great little ledge tht I had seen from the Horn. The views from there were great as well.
The moment of truth came when we got down to Bunnell Notch. I had wanted to take in Terrace as well but, we wanted to get to the brewwfest in Lincoln and we weren't sure we were going to make it timewise if we did Terrace. So, we saved that for another day and descended the Bunnell Notch Trail. I thought about the mishap that Sadie and I had there this winter and how different everything looked. It was amazing to see how the wide logging roads of the winter are now narrow tracks through overgrown brush!
It was a fun hike with some great views and we made the brewfest without any problems (ya' should have been there Tom!). Sure, we could have done Owl's Head as the weather did hold but, we hedged our bet and came out winners anyway.
Here are my pics!
