Easy Bigelows two-night trip

[whans]

I'm almost off to Rangeley, and if I can't pull together my saddleback trip the backup plan is a two night trip in the Bigelow range. I may be able to spot a car, not sure yet. It looks now like I'll have an 8-yr old kid on his first overnight as well as my more experienced 9 yr old son.

So does anyone have advice on route possibilities? If we can spot the car near Stratton Pond Brook, and start hiking from Stratton, are there campsites before Horns Pond? I think Stratton to Horns Pond would be too far, though maybe not. If there were a spot near Cranberry Pond, then the shelter near West and Avery Peaks would be great for the second night.

I've hiked there once-- a one day loop up to Cranberry Pond, over to the east, and down the firewarden's trail-- but it was several years ago and I don't remember all campsite possibilities.

Thanks a lot for any replies.

Whit

 

[Sheomet]

There is no campsite before the Horns Pond, well there is one down the AT from Cranberry Pond but that is probably just as far as the Horns. The Horns Pond campsite is about 6.5 miles from Stratton according to my Bigelow Preserve map, that might be doable for your kids. Another route possibility is to start at Stratton and camp first night at Horns Pond, then hike over West Peak and camp at the site in the col the 2nd night (or continue over Avery and camp at Safford Notch). Then the 3rd day you could go down Safford Brook trail where you would need a car spot near the Bigelow Lodge/Round Barn, and you could enjoy the Lake. You could also go down Little Bigelow via the AT to the southeast end of Flagstaff Lake from Safford Notch, or you could go down Firewardens trail after spending the 2nd night in the col with a car spot at Stratton Brook Pond. Lots of possibilities, you can't go wrong with any of them really, the Bigelow Range is fantastic! Hope I didn't confuse you.

 

[Mad Townie]

Another possibility, if you want a couple short days, is to take the AT up from the Stratton Brook Pond Road to Horns Pond, then over South Horn and West Peak to a night at the Bigelow Col tentsite (I miss the shelter!), then down the Firewarden's Trail to the SBP Road again.

I've done something similar with kids the ages of yours, with no problems. In fact, we made it a one-night, two-day trip by going from Horns Pond over West and down the FW trail to the car in one day. The first day is wicked easy, especially if you take your time.

 

[Stan]

The whole range sounds ambitious for that age and a beginner at that. The Horns and West and Avery Peaks make for a nice loop out of Stratton Pond and they Horns Pond shelter/tentsites offers an attractive area with a nice pond to explore.

 

[whans]

Thanks for the replies. It's especially useful to know that there's no good spot between Stratton and Horns-- It would be discouraging to arrive at Cranberry Pond hoping for a spot, then have to continue up and over to Horns without having psyched the kids up for it.

I'll let the board know how it goes.

Whit