Cabot loop from fish hatchery

[vegematic]

I'm looking at taking some beginners on a two nighter heading up Unknown Pond trail, camping there night one, then heading over Cabot and possibly Terrace, spending night two at either the Bunnell Notch intersection or the York Pond Trail intersection, and heading back to the fish hatchery on the third day. Having never been over there in any season I've got some questions:

Is Unknown Pond the water source at that campsite? I'd like to avoid melting snow when possible.
Are we likely to require full crampons on this route or should snowshoe crampons suffice?
Anything else I should be aware of?
-vegematic

 

[MichaelJ]

I would expect the pond to be frozen over; however, the outlet brook on the east side (easily accessible - along the Unknown Pond Trail) may be flowing with open spots.

I wouldn't expect you to need crampons, though keep in mind it's always possible to hit a sheet of ice where drainages cross the trail. But a good snowshoe crampon would get you past that, and it wouldn't be steep, either.

However, you should not miss the views from the Horn, and that block of open rock may well be icy. It can be tricky even in the summer to get on top. The exposure's only about 6', but it requires care and balance.

I know there's magic in a 3-day loop, but Unknown Pond is really pretty. If you think you might like to stay there again your next night, it's easy to get from there to Cabot and back, with a stop at the Horn, during daylight.

I've got some summer pix from doing a slightly different loop, Rogers Ledge to Unknown Pond, if you're curious as to what stuff looks like up there.

 

[askus3]

The second night you might also consider camping in the Cabot Mt. cabin, especially if the weather is poor. From there it is all downhill