buckyball1
New member
...i thought they'd both be cake...
Cedar (1953') lies north of Brownville Jct and just south of Jo-Mary Mtn. I access off Rt 11, through the Jo-Mary gate ($6 to NMW and worth every penny to me for their upkeep on roads, etc) and in about 11 miles on dirt roads. From sat pics, i had hoped to park about 1/2 mile and 400 vertical feet from the summit. I ended up parking near Jo-Mary Pond (not Lake) about 1.75+ crow fly trail miles and 900 vertical feet from Cedar's top.
The roads i thought easily navigable in the car have not seen wheels for years. There was chest high growth periodically in the middle of the first mile of road and a rocky trench for the next 0.3 -not sure how i got this one so wrong. Only 37 degrees when i started in, easy walk to the "trench", then a long stretch with terrible footing, fraught with the prospect of an ankle sprain on the way down.
I finally tired of the "trail" and headed into the woods about 0.45 from the summit. Easy first tenth, then some thick woods (i had hoped to follow old logging activity, but as the years pass "openness" is fading in many places) The woods thinned, slope moderated and the last few tenths were easy going. The top is flattish, wooded and with only a rusted tree stand and 3 very large (24v?) batteries on top-yuck. I found a much better line down using some old skidder paths and was quickly back at the car. Chatted with the couple who maintain the gate for a bit (they laughed and told me my registration was 2 months overdue) and headed up Rt 11 toward Millinocket.
As it was a "rest" day for the log trucks, i was able to access the Golden Road early on and had the usual great drive past the "other" side of Katahdin and the park peaks--some superb views. If you've never driven it, give it a try-it's paved for a long way and you'll love the scenery-also free. The area was packed today as i swung past the "Big Eddy" (a favorite name for spots on several Maine rivers) and up the Telos Rd toward
Soubunge (2088')-thanks to Bill C for advice re conditions on the mountain. The peak is rather prominent over the north end of Harrington Lake and the sheer, high cliff section on it's SE side make clear a line NOT to try. Bill and company had "thickness" issue earlier this year so i decided to try a different approach from the SSW (W of the long abandoned fire warden trail) rather than their SSE approach--unfortunately it's crap down low either way.
Because of serious past cutting and the south facing terrain, the area has a ton of heavy grass/briars/weeds over head high with slash and blowdown everywhere, much of it hidden at your feet. The first 0.35 of the hike was moderate misery--the plants/grass clawing at your entire body like tentacles and the large number of downed trees providing unneeded exercise, detour and badly banged shins. As the slope steepens, the thickness begins to moderate (less cutting, less sun). I was trying to angle toward some trace of the old trail, but didn't hit it until about 2/3 of the way up. Thanks to whomever has flagged some of the way up there--the blowdown makes it tough to follow in spots with only one pair of eyes. I know some of you "hate" any sign of flagging, but after long, lonely journeys, I'm glad to see a bit of well done survey tape-happens so seldom (no flames please).
The top is as advertised, tower skeleton, ammo box for geocachers with tons of "stuff" in it and the old "doghouse"--lots of sun and some nice peek-a-boo views all around and into the Park peaks. I made a few forays trying to find a descent line down the SW ridge, but finally thought better of that, followed the old path as best i could to the flat terrain and then swung west to my car through the high stuff/downed tree fields again-borders on dangerous especially for a foolish solo hiker.
nothing special, but a fun day
jim
Cedar (1953') lies north of Brownville Jct and just south of Jo-Mary Mtn. I access off Rt 11, through the Jo-Mary gate ($6 to NMW and worth every penny to me for their upkeep on roads, etc) and in about 11 miles on dirt roads. From sat pics, i had hoped to park about 1/2 mile and 400 vertical feet from the summit. I ended up parking near Jo-Mary Pond (not Lake) about 1.75+ crow fly trail miles and 900 vertical feet from Cedar's top.
The roads i thought easily navigable in the car have not seen wheels for years. There was chest high growth periodically in the middle of the first mile of road and a rocky trench for the next 0.3 -not sure how i got this one so wrong. Only 37 degrees when i started in, easy walk to the "trench", then a long stretch with terrible footing, fraught with the prospect of an ankle sprain on the way down.
I finally tired of the "trail" and headed into the woods about 0.45 from the summit. Easy first tenth, then some thick woods (i had hoped to follow old logging activity, but as the years pass "openness" is fading in many places) The woods thinned, slope moderated and the last few tenths were easy going. The top is flattish, wooded and with only a rusted tree stand and 3 very large (24v?) batteries on top-yuck. I found a much better line down using some old skidder paths and was quickly back at the car. Chatted with the couple who maintain the gate for a bit (they laughed and told me my registration was 2 months overdue) and headed up Rt 11 toward Millinocket.
As it was a "rest" day for the log trucks, i was able to access the Golden Road early on and had the usual great drive past the "other" side of Katahdin and the park peaks--some superb views. If you've never driven it, give it a try-it's paved for a long way and you'll love the scenery-also free. The area was packed today as i swung past the "Big Eddy" (a favorite name for spots on several Maine rivers) and up the Telos Rd toward
Soubunge (2088')-thanks to Bill C for advice re conditions on the mountain. The peak is rather prominent over the north end of Harrington Lake and the sheer, high cliff section on it's SE side make clear a line NOT to try. Bill and company had "thickness" issue earlier this year so i decided to try a different approach from the SSW (W of the long abandoned fire warden trail) rather than their SSE approach--unfortunately it's crap down low either way.
Because of serious past cutting and the south facing terrain, the area has a ton of heavy grass/briars/weeds over head high with slash and blowdown everywhere, much of it hidden at your feet. The first 0.35 of the hike was moderate misery--the plants/grass clawing at your entire body like tentacles and the large number of downed trees providing unneeded exercise, detour and badly banged shins. As the slope steepens, the thickness begins to moderate (less cutting, less sun). I was trying to angle toward some trace of the old trail, but didn't hit it until about 2/3 of the way up. Thanks to whomever has flagged some of the way up there--the blowdown makes it tough to follow in spots with only one pair of eyes. I know some of you "hate" any sign of flagging, but after long, lonely journeys, I'm glad to see a bit of well done survey tape-happens so seldom (no flames please).
The top is as advertised, tower skeleton, ammo box for geocachers with tons of "stuff" in it and the old "doghouse"--lots of sun and some nice peek-a-boo views all around and into the Park peaks. I made a few forays trying to find a descent line down the SW ridge, but finally thought better of that, followed the old path as best i could to the flat terrain and then swung west to my car through the high stuff/downed tree fields again-borders on dangerous especially for a foolish solo hiker.
nothing special, but a fun day
jim
