Checking out Maine's 4000 footers... (Part 1)

[TMax]

Checking out Maine's 4000 footers...

Part 1

I figured I'd start this thread (since most of the group is either still in the woods or partying!!) but hopefully others will add their experiences.

I joined Hikethe115, HarryK, and Nancy on Dec. 25th. They had already started their whirlwind of winter peaks a couple days before. Woke up early on the 26th to overcast skies and spitting snow. Drove up to meet SpongeBob (where we thought we would be hiking but changed our minds) then drove back to the road to the Bigelow's trailhead. It was a little sketchy, snow covered and some blowdown but Dawn’s Subaru made it just fine to a point about ½ a mile from the trailhead. Adrian decided he didn’t want to leave his car there, in case it snowed---he might not get back out! So me, Nancy, and Dawn started out while Harry followed Adrian back to the road. Along the road walk, there was a good stream crossing (actually, the outflow from a beaver dam) that had great rock placement across it. The road itself was icy, Nancy donned crampons but Dawn and I held out. For our effort we both wiped out! I pulled out in front of the two of them and put some distance between us. Then I started to get nervous when I kept stopping and no-one caught up. This is an unusual event for me! As I climbed higher, the weather deteriorated. I started to wonder if something had happened and they turned back. So I waited a while doing a jig to keep warm and whistling every once in a while. Eventually, Harry and Adrian caught up to me. We moved on from there but pretty soon I had to stop to put on crampons. That’s when Dawn and Nancy caught up. Then there was a pretty steep section that took us to the col between West Peak and Avery. We donned extra layers (the wind had picked up and temps dropped) then headed up to Avery. Some interesting icy rock scrambles along the way and then we were on the summit. The summit sign was coated in several inches of ice as were all the rocks and shrubs. It was beautiful. We didn’t stay long because of the conditions (there were no views either) and stopped for lunch just after dropping below tree-line. Very quick stop then back to the col and up to West Peak. Same conditions there and then decision made not to go for the Horns (a NEHH peak) as we wanted to save energy for all the 4k’s we had planned for the week. (Bigelows pics)

When we got back to the bunkhouse, Jean, Nat, Stephan, and Natalie---(nicknamed the Canada contigency) had arrived. They joined us for the Crocker's-Reddington hike on the 27th. Another early start and car shuttles putting mine and Jean's vehicles at the AT trailhead where we planned to exit. Then we all drove over to Caribou Valley Road in Dawn’s car and the owner of the bunkhouse shuttled the rest in her truck. We got in about 4 miles on the road, which left only a small piece of road walk to the trailhead. Cold and cloudy start to the day. The trip plan was South Crocker to Reddington back to South Crocker then to North Crocker with some heading on over the trail (adding extra mileage) to where the cars had been spotted, but some heading back (less mileage but have to re-climb South Crocker) to Dawn’s car. The climb up South Crocker was very steep on one prolonged section with some pretty decent exposure. Probably should have donned crampons but didn’t. By the time it got sketchy, we were already in the thick of it! Unfortunately, on a clear day I’m sure the views are spectacular, but today they were like all the other socked in views I’ve had…been there, done that! We regrouped on South Crocker then started the bushwhack over to Reddington. And is it a bushwhack! Some tough plodding through thick stuff, over blow down, and breaking through ice-crusted snow. But, one of the good things about being slow, the trail gets broken out by the folks in front! Harry, Nancy, Dawn, Adrian and I took up the rear. The Canadian’s were following some orange tags and MarkL's footprints (who showed up at the bunkhouse and told us about his trip and getting lost for several hours on this bushwhack) but I noticed some pink blazes that appeared to be a better route. I hollered to take that way but Harry didn’t want to split up the group. When the tracks we were following got into even more difficult terrain we decided to head back to the pink blazes. Adrian went ahead to let the other group know. We eventually came out on a wide path and met up with them and then finished the last push up to the summit. We signed the canister on top, took a few photos and headed back. We took the pink blazes back down and stopped briefly just before the col for some food and I put on my crampons. The walk up that section had been icy. The climb back up to South Crocker was a $%# and took some steam out of me. At one of the decision points (where tracks go two ways) I left my bandana for Dawn to mark the right route and at a second one I stopped to wait for her. Back at South Crocker everyone was waiting, (UGH!!) and we decided we would make a decision about which way each was going after we saw the trail we would have to return on. On the way up to North Crocker, we saw the only other people we would see all day, two guys and a dog. The climb up to North Crocker was easy even though I was tired! At the summit I said, “I got no more up in me, I’m not heading back” and decided to do the extra mileage instead. Dawn felt the same. So Harry, Nancy, and Melanie decided to go back to CVR while the rest of us continued on. I now made it ABUNDANTLY clear that I wanted no one to wait for us. My car was at the end; we had headlamps and could get ourselves out without a problem. All agreed and off we went. I was pretty toasted though and Dawn led the way. The descent was easy and we pretty quickly removed crampons. Every once in a while you’d hit some ice but there was nothing prolonged. We ran into darkness and had to don headlamps, which slowed us up a bit. As it turned out, there's quite a bit of elevation gain (gradual but still there!) on this route as well. I complained a bit about the "stupid AT that doesn't know out is supposed to be down!!" When we broke out of the woods to the parking lot I realized I had parked my car at the other end DOH!

 

[TMax]

Part 2

On the 28th we decided to do Saddleback and The Horn as our “easy” day so that we would be up for a biggie (Abraham, Spaulding, Sugarloaf) the next day. Well, the best laid plans… Natalie dropped out (knee pain) but MarkL joined us so we were still a large group. We had a later start since this is a relatively “short” hike…about 6 miles. We started off at the Saddleback ski resort. The ride out there was pleasant with some sun and even a brief view of the Bigelows. It held a lot of promise for the day! Talked with staff at the resort about our best route and they pointed out which slopes were closed. We headed up a slope relatively in the center. A quick crossing of the ski area as skiers were whooshing by and then we started UP. Duh, ski slopes are steep. We had a long train of us in single file so tracks were good by the time I came along. Looking back, there was a brief moment with a view but that passed quickly as we climbed into the clouds. A few times we had to make decisions about which way to go, but we just stayed on un-groomed trails. Coming around one corner I hear Nancy say “Oh my god” and I ask “what?” She says, “it’s a head wall!” I come around and sure enough, a wicked steep section with fairly deep unconsolidated snow on top of brushy twiggy crap. On the top of that little wall, everyone stopped to put on snowshoes. This made the going easier up to the warming hut. We went in for a little while to eat and drink but then going back out into the cold was tough! It was another 400’ elevation gain to the top but in wicked conditions. The wind was roaring and we were pelted with ice crystals. Stopped in a small leeway to add layers (and hand warmers!) and then finished heading up. One false summit then on to the real one. The summit sign was covered with about 10-12 inches of rime ice. Didn’t spend long (I didn’t even GPS it) and quickly headed over to The Horn. Stephan and Natalie headed back down. There were some tricky spots dropping off the other side and we lost trail a couple of times (we were above tree line almost the entire way over). On one section, we had to navigate down over some slab that was totally covered in ice. We all elected to butt slide down it and I commented about how we would get back up it! We eventually dropped snowshoes and donned crampons, which helped tremendously. I fell into a hip deep spruce trap at one point, which would have been deeper but it only sucked in one leg! HarryK had to take a picture before helping me out! On the way up the Horn, there was a steel “ladder” of sorts that helped to get you up some slab stuff. That was interesting in crampons! Everyone re-grouped in a fairly protected spot then headed for the summit where the wind blasted us some more. Again, we stopped only briefly for a couple of pictures. One guy joined us on top and then we ran into two others on our way down. In the first real protected spot we stopped to get a bite to eat. We ran into another guy who was with the others but had fallen behind. Sure hoped he didn’t try for the summit alone. That one spot where we butt slid on the way down, Harry and Jean waited for us all to make sure we navigated it OK. With crampons on we plowed right up it. We rushed back over Saddleback then back into the warming hut where we took a long break. Harry and Jean were anxious to go so took off ahead. We had three cars at the ski resort so this wasn’t a problem. Adrian joined them. Nancy was soon behind then Dawn Mark and I. With snowshoes back on we made excellent time down. I took two face plants when some of that shrubby stuff grabbed a hold of my snowshoe.

I took the 29th as a rest day knowing my slower pace would get in the way of the group making the Abraham, Spaulding, Sugarloaf traverse in a timely manner. I'll let them comment on that death march!

On the 30th, I did Old Speck on my way home. (I saw 4 moose on the way to the trailhead.) It was an absolutely beautiful hike. The day was overcast and cold and it snowed the entire time. The trail started off with only a few inches of snow and patches of ice but as you climbed higher, the snow increased a great deal. It made for such a nice walk and made up for the lack of mountain views. I bare-booted the entire way and had the trail to myself. In some short sections, crampons would have been useful but I didn't bother. One thing I did notice, the trail sign at the summit (which was there when I climbed it this summer) was gone. Anyone know what that's about? When I got to the parking area, LOTS of snow had fallen and the roads were a mess! The ride home that usually takes 8 hours, took 11!

What a great way to spend a few days! Here's a link to the Saddleback pics...hopefully I'll get the others done soon, so check back.

 

[danno]

Great trip report and photos TMax! Looks like a cold but nice trip.

 

[spongebob]

I feel a long winded post coming.....

This was a big week planned of hiking, considering I haven’t hiked much in recent months. I met Dawn at her condo in North Conway on Friday Night. (December 22nd) Later that night HarryK, Nancy, and Bruce arrived.

As it was raining on the 23rd, HarryK and I decided in our great lack of knowledge to hike in the freezing rain on Tecumseh. I was so out of shape going up this hike and got totally wet. Stupid water can bite me. Some sort of traction device should have gone on earlier, but the laziness kept me from doing that until the summit.

This will be later known as “Tecumseh Syndrome.” (As in waiting too long to put on crampons or the reverse Tecumseh Syndrome of putting crampons on way too soon.)

I snagged half of HarryK’s Montreal bagel (the best bagels) sandwich at a ski lift off the trail. The lift operator saw four skiers all day.

The next day a bunch of people did Mount Carrigain. I ended up doing Hale by myself as no one wanted to hike with me. I hate those jerks! The hike was fairly uneventful. The good thing was it was not raining. A forest ranger offered me a ride out, but I declined as I don’t trust the government. I did not want to end up in some sort of CIA secret prison. Hale has never been easy for me. I am either out of shape or carrying a big freaking backpack.

I went home for Christmas, but a core group hiked up Old Speck in Maine. I rested eating lots of food. The next day the driving of to the Sugarloaf area was way bad. I do get a mean pleasure is seeing a 4 wheel drive vehicle off the road that passed you going really fast minutes before in snowy/freezing rain conditions. (If there are no injuries, and there weren’t.)

Dawn tried to see me naked at the CVR and Route 27 junction. I had not wrapped my “box”(a funny SNL video, but a strong PG-13) to celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and Festivus.

Dawn, Terri, Nancy, HarryK, and I started the hike to have some fun in Maine. The Bigelow hike had a long approach, and HarryK and I did the reverse “Tecumseh Syndrome”, and had crampons on way too soon. The clouds would not give me a freaking view either. The trail is steep, but I had energy for some reason. The ice frozen trees and rocks were really cool.

I chowed down my food in the col of the mountains. In retrospect we did not have to gear up so soon as Bigelow Avery Peak blocked the wind from the south, and HarryK’s chili smell. HarryK also wore orange blaze gaiters. I asked him if he was a hunter in a jerky way. If it was Canadian season I would have capped his as*! As I was packing heat.

They say the view is not everything, but the friendship on the hike is more important. <----what a load of crap. With the bunch of people I was with, I would take the view.

West Peak of Bigelow was pretty much the same. I had these “friends” I am suppose to cherish, but no views. The hike out I played around on rocks, wet roots, icy spots, and tailgating hikers. Which is way cool.

At the Maine Roadhouse in Stratton I unpacked my stuff. Jean, Natalie and some other Canadian victims were there, which was nice to cancel out the New Yorker influence and HarryK flatulence. I even snagged food off from Jean & Nat. (who cook awesome.) They are good to keep around for that reason alone.

We hiked the Crockers and Redington the next day. Blah blah blah. I have never done the bushwhack to Redington from South Crocker, which isn’t too bad, but the other way was way more fun. The hike out from North Crocker to Route 27 was fast but kind of blah. I did have my first view after like four hikes of a lake. We got out just as head lamps would be needed.

The next day we hiked Saddleback and Saddleback the Horn. I saw a great view of The Bigelows and the Horns on the way to the hike. And East Kennebago looked awesome too!…..Then the clouds came in. The hike up the ski slope was easy enough. We went inside to a warming hut near the summit. I wondered which soda machine was higher….The one on Equinox in Vermont or the Saddleback in Maine. I guess that is what a GPS is for.

It was windy and kind of cold. I wore my snowshoes all the way, and the rest of the wimps changed to crampons….Or I had “Tecumseh Syndrome” and was too lazy to take them off……Nope they were wimps.

I got a glimpse of Abraham, and then it was gone. MarkL is cool, because he walks backwards sometimes with his crampons on ups or downs. I was going to take a little movie, but I tripped over and cracked my knee. That ended that.

I buggered out for two days back to Portland, and then went to meet up with people in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. No baby Jesus was anywhere to be seen. The directions Donna gave ended up being rather suspect. Maybe they were trying to lose me……Nah not me……

MtnMa & MtnPa are really nice people. The SherpaKroto’s, Miata Bob (or Budweiser Bob), Donna, and Shizzmac joined the Dawn, Nancy, HarryK crew.

I ended up hiking the Twins with Donna, MtnPa, and Nancy. We went over the first stream crossing of the Little river fine. The second one was not great, so I said lets bushwhack to the third one. Well that was a bad idea on my part. After messing up for a bit, we crossed again, and went to the third crossing. Donna and MtnPa went back, and Nancy and I climbed up to the Twins…………Blah blah blah…………. The views were good…..Blah blah blah………Stupid snow I had to break trail….

We celebrated new years by mostly sleeping. SherpaKroto cow belled into the new year. And he even got me two packs of candy cigarettes. Shizzmac burned all the chicken wings. <---- that is an important point.

This next paragraph is totally truthful. I made dinner for everyone. I made stuffed shells, garlic bread, oyster stew, and many other things. I fermented the wine, and brewed the beer. The next morning I made the breakfast for everyone. I even had to make coffee, as MtnMa and MtnPa are not really known for that skill set.

Overall it was fun except for much of the above.

I am still mad at Dawn, because I didn’t warrant consumption of the “good beer”.

Most important piece of equipment was the Snackmaster to make grilled cheese sandwiches.

Webshots photos


Two choices on a video. It runs probably a minute and a half past its welcome. Or maybe the whole thing is past its welcome.
YouTube Video (I would use the smallest view on Youtube for best viewing that is degraded.)

Link to better download of movie but more Megabytes Kind of bloated at 42MB. I was kind of lazy in minimizing the size.