Crockers?

[hikes-with-him]

Hi all...

Ok...70-80's this weekend!! Looking to hit a few more 4000's in Maine...and the Crockers seem to be a possibility (for Sunday).

Few questions:

1. Snowshoes? Crampons?
2. Would it be possible for a moderate hiker like hubby and I to hit both Crocker and S. Crocker if we started at about 6:30 am? We like to be out before dark...probably by 6:30.
3. What is the trail like? I have heard it is a wooded trail...is it ledgy? Wet?
4. I've heard there are two steep sections...what about the saddle between Crocker and S. Crocker...it's only a mile...but we know how hard that can be sometimes.

Thanks for the info.

 

[David Metsky]

The real question may be the status of the road, which is notoriously awful in spring. What kind of vehicle will you have?

 

[Puma concolor]

The Crockers are pretty "soft" and hitting both in a day is easily doable. Only obstacle is the conditions ... based on your entry for Old Speck from a few days back, I'm sure there's still a bunch of snow. With warming temps, this is the time of the year where you will get melt on both the top and bottom of the pack making for fun postholing into small streams.

Like Dave Metsky said, CVR is probably in rough shape so you might need to try it from Route 27 via the AT.

Here's my Summit Post page on the Crockers. If you check out the images, there are photos from the summit of North Crocker as well as other pics that give you a feel for the mountain. Can always do a loop ... up from Route 27, down to CVR from South Crocker and a longish road walk back to your starting point. Done that myself with the whack to Reddington added on for good measure.

 

[hikes-with-him]

We have a Subaru...but, I called on the status of the CVR...not good.

So...we were planning on doing a there and back from rte 27...about 12.0 mi total...

So? Still a soft hike...doable in a day with the snow conditions...with snowshoes?

 

[woodsxc]

From my experience on Little Jackson, you're gonna want the snowshoes.

 

[una_dogger]

I backpacked from Poplar Ridge Lean Too to Stratton in a day, down off the ridge from Sugarloaf; across CVR and over both Crockers and down into town-- here's what I remember about coming down off N Crocker to Rt 27 -- its long and gradual with no ledges. In fact, coming at both Crockers from that direction - you aren't going to hit anything that you should need crampons for or that I would consider "ledgy" -- there's a steep section along a slide/scree pile on the way up to Caribou Valley Rd to S Crocker, but its well graded and well travelled - you won't be travelling over this section from Rt 27.

Given the deep snow in Maine this winter and the forecasted temps, I'd definatley wear snowshoes *and* be prepared to be pushing through rotten snow most of the day, which may make this route this time of year seem alot longer than it is.

The area itself is beautiful, and well worth enjoying...if it were me, I'd hit something else and save the Crockers for after the snow is gone to enjoy them when the forest floor comes alive with Trout Lily and Trillium. The woods are mostly open along the Crockers.

 

[rocket21]

I believe Paradox might be able to give you some personal insight about the status of that road in spring

 

[Frodo]

I have done the Crockers 6 times (for some strange reason), including twice in winter when it was actually raining, so I am not too fond of those #%&*@%! peaks. Like Una Dogger mentioned, you might be better off saving these peaks for a rainy "winter" day...

The CVR is definitely not drivable this time of year (or pretty much most of the time), but it is certainly walkable. You might want to consider walking the 4 miles to the AT crossing and hiking the peaks from there (most winter hikers do it this way). It is only slightly longer than taking RT 27 out and back, but it is easier, since most of the miles are on the road (though it does have a steep section). It also means less miles on rotten snow, and there are going to be plenty of those with this weekend's summer temps.

I would also recommend bringing snowshoes, and crampons or micro-spikes regardless of the route you end up taking.

Have fun, and if I were you, head over to the Bigelows instead and get some views!

 

[cushetunk]

head over to the Bigelows instead and get some views!

Or skip the Bigelows and head for the Camden Hills!* In my opinion, April is a wonderful time to hike on the coast, go canoeing, or go look for birds, wildflowers and amphibians. Or corn snow skiing. It's a good month to diversify hobbies.


*I know this is unsolicited advice, and we all know what everyone thinks about that, but, have you ever linked up Maiden's Cliff, Cameron Mountain, and the Sky Blue Trail?

 

[woodsxc]

Imzadi, you were planning on starting at the highway all along, right?

 

[hikes-with-him]

*I know this is unsolicited advice, and we all know what everyone thinks about that, but, have you ever linked up Maiden's Cliff, Cameron Mountain, and the Sky Blue Trail?

I don't mind unsolicited advice...especially when I asked in the first place

We are going to do a quickie up to Megunticook with our new hiking partner (his first "hike") on Saturday with kidos too.

We are looking for something a little more...substantial (to cool our hiking fever) for Sunday...

I THINK, based on what people are saying here...we will probably head to Acadia. We were there two weeks ago...and there was some snow in places but, not too much. Based on all the rain and the weekend temps...it may be much more enjoyable.

 

[hikes-with-him]

Imzadi, you were planning on starting at the highway all along, right?

Yes...but...sounds like more a frustration then a fun hike...hmmmmmm

Anyone with suggestions for some steep hiking in Acadia? We've done the ladder trail to Dorr, down Dorr and up Cadillac, down Cadillac and up Pemetic...down Pemetic back around to our car...

Maybe the bubbles...Sargent...Penobscot?

 

[MichaelJ]

The Bubbles are a really nice hike, not too long but still enough distance and climbing to work up a sweat. They're very reminiscent of Welch-Dickey, with great open ledges and fantastic views, and a really fun erratic. I'd definitely recommend them. It only took us a few hours.

The steepest is the Precipice Trail, which is not for the afraid of heights, but is not open until the Fall due to peregrine falcons. That said, there are other routes up Champlain Mtn, which can include the Bowl and the Beehive, which also has some fun steeps. From there you can walk right out to the beach, too.

 

[cushetunk]

We are looking for something a little more...substantial

Well, I think you'll do quite well at Acadia! But, to indulge in a little Camden Hills nostalgia and to shamelessly plug my own old trip report (it's one of the few pieces of evidence on this site that I actually hike, in addition to just spouting off opinions), I will say that I have faced your dilemma.

 

[hikes-with-him]

Well, I think you'll do quite well at Acadia! But, to indulge in a little Camden Hills nostalgia and to shamelessly plug my own old trip report (it's one of the few pieces of evidence on this site that I actually hike, in addition to just spouting off opinions), I will say that I have faced your dilemma.

I love Camden...and spent quite a bit of time there last summer/fall. We combined many of the trails for several 7+ hour hikes. Actually had the kidos doing these with us by the end of the year. Interestingly, at the time, we were impressed with ourselves for being able to do such a "long" loop with "so many peaks!". Now...well...this will be set as our "have a few hours to do a little hiking" files.

 

[hikes-with-him]

The Bubbles are a really nice hike, not too long but still enough distance and climbing to work up a sweat. They're very reminiscent of Welch-Dickey, with great open ledges and fantastic views, and a really fun erratic. I'd definitely recommend them. It only took us a few hours.

The steepest is the Precipice Trail, which is not for the afraid of heights, but is not open until the Fall due to peregrine falcons. That said, there are other routes up Champlain Mtn, which can include the Bowl and the Beehive, which also has some fun steeps. From there you can walk right out to the beach, too.

Hmmm....there is some TASTY looking stuff in here! How to catch the bubbles AND Champlain (bee hive and such) in a loop...

Do you think the beehive (or other ledgy areas) would be too wet/slippery after all this weather and snow melt? We met lots of wet/slippery ledges coming down Cadallic to Bubble Pond 3 weeks ago. No ice...just wet and mossy.

 

[MichaelJ]

Do you think the beehive (or other ledgy areas) would be too wet/slippery after all this weather and snow melt?

It's tough to predict. Open rock areas soak up the sun, get really warm, and evaporate away the water. Areas in shadow may still have wetness. But ... Acadia also gets those open ocean breezes, which also help with evaporation. I'd be inclined to think that there's a good chance of plenty of dry ledge, three weeks in spring can be a world of difference.

 

[rup]

OK, Ill bite. Since you've reached S. Crocker, how's the trek to Reddington????

 

[Puma concolor]

When I did the route from S. Crocker to Redington 9 years ago, it was a little thick although I picked up a bit of a herd path sporadically. Don't remember exactly how long it took me. Supposedly, the path is a little more defined these days and I saw one report that there was orange flagging along the way as of last summer.

Of course, there is now a route directly from CVR to Redington that seems to be the regular way to go.

 

[jniehof]

OK, Ill bite. Since you've reached S. Crocker, how's the trek to Reddington????

Not bad (as of last September). A bit thick to start, but herd path (SWIMMING in flagging tape) until you reach the road over the col, then a trail up from there. Still faster to come back down the logging road route, though.

You'll get some spruce in the teeth, and I suppose it's possible to get lost if you're careless, but I expected far worse.