After summiting Abraham on Monday via the Firewardens Trail I decided that I would come in from the West via the AT yesterday (Fri).
Arrived at the CVR parking area at 0900 where the concrete blocks are placed about a quarter of a mile below the AT crossing. The Carrabasset Pond Road is in really good shape with the exception of a big sink hole at one bridge location. The road is about eight feet wide there so there is a passway, but narrow.
The 2X10 plank crossing the torrent just after you head south on the AT is in place, but a bit saggy with my 220 pounds crossing it, but no cracking sounds. The trail up onto and across the rim of the ravine is in good shape, and with nicely scenic drop-offs to walk beside. Once off the edge of the ravine the trail becomes well shaded from the sun and pretty mellow.
Arriving at the junction with the .6 mile Sugarloaf side trail at 1100 hours I met ten Freshman Ori kids from Bowdoin. I led, then followed them to the summit of Sugarloaf where they took the obligatory silly pictures and I ate my lunch. They left and I remained for about a half an hour just sitting in the sun and cool breezes.
Leaving the "Loaf" I hiked the very easy trail over to the summit of Spaulding Mountain and took the short spur trail to the summit for another short sit.
Leaving Spaulding I soon ran into another Frosh group, from Haaavard, who were on their way NOBO and heading for the "Loaf". One of the several Thru-hikers I passed remarked that he had encountered seven seperate groups of college kids in the past two days. I sure hope that these groups of ten carry some form of shelter and don't depend upon staying (and filling) the lean-tos enroute.
The trail heading south from Spaulding is downhill for quite a long stretch before hitting the Spaulding Lean-to and its wonderful spring where I tanked up for the next stretch and my walk out.
After a quick and very easy walk over to the Mt Abraham Side trail junction. I turned right on the very old woods road and headed West. I followed this old trail mostly following Moose Trod and probably Man Trod trail traces with occasional red flagging in the really thick grown-up sections. Eventually I reached an old gravel logging road where I turned right and continued.
A had searced the forums for guidelines and all of them said "keep right". I did this until I saw a snowmoblie arrow pointing left which I followed. This trail which had recent ATV tracks took me to the extreme West side of the Pond. I then connected with an old grown in road which took me in a long clock-wise direction around the pond and back to the main CPR.
I arrived back at my car at 5:30 PM after 16 foot weary miles, but happy with the day. Another hour and I was back home in East Dixfield.
As I only have a 44k Net connection, no photos or videos will be posted.
If someone with knowledge of this route would check the GPX file I have posted, I would like to know if I took the correct line off the mountain. I think I did a bit of extra walking.
Doesn't look like I can attach the GPX here so I could email it to anyone who would like to see it.
Arrived at the CVR parking area at 0900 where the concrete blocks are placed about a quarter of a mile below the AT crossing. The Carrabasset Pond Road is in really good shape with the exception of a big sink hole at one bridge location. The road is about eight feet wide there so there is a passway, but narrow.
The 2X10 plank crossing the torrent just after you head south on the AT is in place, but a bit saggy with my 220 pounds crossing it, but no cracking sounds. The trail up onto and across the rim of the ravine is in good shape, and with nicely scenic drop-offs to walk beside. Once off the edge of the ravine the trail becomes well shaded from the sun and pretty mellow.
Arriving at the junction with the .6 mile Sugarloaf side trail at 1100 hours I met ten Freshman Ori kids from Bowdoin. I led, then followed them to the summit of Sugarloaf where they took the obligatory silly pictures and I ate my lunch. They left and I remained for about a half an hour just sitting in the sun and cool breezes.
Leaving the "Loaf" I hiked the very easy trail over to the summit of Spaulding Mountain and took the short spur trail to the summit for another short sit.
Leaving Spaulding I soon ran into another Frosh group, from Haaavard, who were on their way NOBO and heading for the "Loaf". One of the several Thru-hikers I passed remarked that he had encountered seven seperate groups of college kids in the past two days. I sure hope that these groups of ten carry some form of shelter and don't depend upon staying (and filling) the lean-tos enroute.
The trail heading south from Spaulding is downhill for quite a long stretch before hitting the Spaulding Lean-to and its wonderful spring where I tanked up for the next stretch and my walk out.
After a quick and very easy walk over to the Mt Abraham Side trail junction. I turned right on the very old woods road and headed West. I followed this old trail mostly following Moose Trod and probably Man Trod trail traces with occasional red flagging in the really thick grown-up sections. Eventually I reached an old gravel logging road where I turned right and continued.
A had searced the forums for guidelines and all of them said "keep right". I did this until I saw a snowmoblie arrow pointing left which I followed. This trail which had recent ATV tracks took me to the extreme West side of the Pond. I then connected with an old grown in road which took me in a long clock-wise direction around the pond and back to the main CPR.
I arrived back at my car at 5:30 PM after 16 foot weary miles, but happy with the day. Another hour and I was back home in East Dixfield.
As I only have a 44k Net connection, no photos or videos will be posted.
If someone with knowledge of this route would check the GPX file I have posted, I would like to know if I took the correct line off the mountain. I think I did a bit of extra walking.
Doesn't look like I can attach the GPX here so I could email it to anyone who would like to see it.
.
