Elephant Mountain Road

[skiguy]

I was just gearing up for my hike tommorrow for Elephant Mt.(Maine).
I've been looking at the 2005 Delorme Map and it shows what use to be Clearwater Brook Trail as Elephant Mountain Road. Does anyone have any Beta on this approach to Elephant? What about following the AT over Old Blue as an alternative? I would prefer to go the former(Elephant Mountain Road) if passable.Any insight?

 

[Papa Bear]

I was just gearing up for my hike tommorrow for Elephant Mt.(Maine).
I've been looking at the 2005 Delorme Map and it shows what use to be Clearwater Brook Trail as Elephant Mountain Road. Does anyone have any Beta on this approach to Elephant? What about following the AT over Old Blue as an alternative? I would prefer to go the former(Elephant Mountain Road) if passable.Any insight?

The road is the way to go. It's actually up on the side of the valley whereas the old trail was closer to the brook. The trail is all but gone, don't even look for it.

Go up the road to the logging stage area under the elephant col (about a half mile below the AT) and climb up the skid roads to the head wall then over to the peak. Read a few reports on Trail Conditions or here on Trip Reports. It's not a bad whack.

We whacked from the AT a couple of years ago. I don't reccomend it.

 

[skiguy]

Thanx Papa Bear! I did this one when '3762 was the place to go. Should have done '3774 when I was there before; but that's what tomorrow is for. Thankyou for the Head's Up...I'm glad to see it's not just the Map that has changed since the last time I did this one.

 

[Papa Bear]

Thanx Papa Bear! I did this one when '3762 was the place to go. Should have done '3774 when I was there before; but that's what tomorrow is for. Thankyou for the Head's Up...I'm glad to see it's not just the Map that has changed since the last time I did this one.

Actually we went in from the AT, not at the col (where the old trail came up), but up on the side of the mountain. We whacked to the NE peak first along the township line then up to that peak (not too bad), then went over to the SW peak. Not a good way. On the way out, we went down the skid roads and out the road - much better. But we did get both peaks. Report here

Delorme is about right, but just be sure you keep to the main road - It will get you way up near the col to the log yard.

Have fun.

 

[spencer]

I've been from the AT and from the Elephant Mtn. Rd. The road was easier for the western peak but the AT was easier for the eastern peak. Remnants of the Clearwater Brook Trail can be found. I've followed two short sections of it.

Note that if you go over the eastern peak, you will likely find two narrow swaths. One is the county/town line and the other is the 500' AT corridor. IIRC, the townline was yellow and more recently blazed, but it was quite a while ago. Anyway, the yellow one goes over some pretty good cliff, so you'll want to avoid it.

spencer

 

[Papa Bear]

Note that if you go over the eastern peak, you will likely find two narrow swaths. One is the county/town line and the other is the 500' AT corridor. IIRC, the townline was yellow and more recently blazed, but it was quite a while ago. Anyway, the yellow one goes over some pretty good cliff, so you'll want to avoid it.

spencer

We went up the county line but from the back side, i.e. from the Bemis-Elephant col. This was not cliffy. In fact it was a nice way to go. It was blazed yellow as you say. I'd hate to go up from the other side (Old Blue - Elephant col), now that would be cliffy!

We didn't see a prominent AT coridor, although we saw some white splotches on some trees, but it wasn't cleared like it is on South Crocker.