H
HikerBob
Guest
... well sure, some of us: left snowshoes in the car; post-holed up to our butts; got a tad chilly; got more than a tad tired; had foot problems; got wet; got cold...
Oh, and after navigating by commitee decision... we also headed in the wrong direction for a while!
But... We all had a blast! (I reserve the right to edit this statement once I get more feedback from the others!)
As part of the VFTT Winter Gathering 7.5 festivities our group set out to bag Cabot by doing the loop in via Unknown Pond, along the Kilkenny Ridge trail and out via the Bunnell Notch trail.
The group was Skimom, Poison Ivy, Mad Townie, Coldfeet and myself. For Coldfeet it would be his first White Mountain hike! What an introduction to the region!
After getting together at Barnes Field we headed over to the trail head off York Pond Road. It had rained hard all night and was still spitting threateningly. At the trail head however it turned to snow, wet snow, but snow all the same.
We hit the trail a little after 9, a very late start for such a long hike and guaranteeing we would be hiking out in the dark. (Ivy and I are now sworn off long loop hikes on new trails that end after dark!)
The Unknown Pond trail rises steadily over three miles up to the pond at around 3,000' The grey skies continued to dump wet snow on us and while others threw on shells to stay dry from the outside (but got wet from the inside) I kept on trucking in my Marmot Windshirt maintaining an equilibrium of dampness from either direciton.
As the trail swung near the stream we could see that it was a raging torrent and we wondered how the crossing would be. Those first to the crossing (I was bringing up the rear as usual) deemed it too risky but found some obliging bowdowns a little further upstream. A sturdy trunk to walk on and another higher up for a handrail. Got us all across with dry feet.
After having joked that the next seven crossings would be easier we were almost immediately presented with another crossing that appeared worse than the first. As the others scouted unsuccessfuly for an alternative I studied the actual crossing point and decided to give it a shot.
While the amount of water raging down was intimidating the crossing stones were barely submerged and a little faith in ones boots, good placement of poles and steady nerves got us all across safely.
The third, and last, major crossing was easier than the others and a simple splash and hop.
The constant uphill grade, although not steep, wore the less fit of the group (most of us) down and as altitude was gained so snow amounts increased and the temperature dropped. The wind also picked up as we arrived at Unknown Pond.
We took a very quick food break in the shelter of some trees before heading off again. With the temperature plunging below freezing everyone found zips on packs and clothing icing up from the earlier damp snow. Time to get moving. With the snow and mists there were no views to be had at the Pond.
Once around the Pond an on the Kilkenny Ridge trail we came into deeper snow. Those of us without snowshoes were cursing the decision to leave them behind. With little prior traffic and unseasonably recent warm temperatures the snow was very soft and we postholed often.
Apart from slowing us down postholing is incredibly tiring and when we regrouped at the spur trail for The Horn the guys decided to keep pressing on to the Bulge while Skimom and Ivy headed up to bag The Horn for the NE 100 Highest. I, for one, did not need the extra distance and elevation gain on an already long and behind schedule hike. The other guys were, I'm sure, of a similar mind.
The other two guys had brought snowshoes and while they forged a path ahead I followed on attempting to float on their trail but postholing more often than not. We cruised (!) over The Bulge and on to Cabot. Skimom and Ivy caught up to us just shy of Cabot summit and just in time to see me take my best yet post holes. I went in right up to my butt and it took a couple of minutes to extricate myself.
All smiles on the summit for a group shot then we gladly headed downhill to the Cabin for another quick break out of the now wicked wind. Headlamps were fished out ready for the oncoming night and we set off again, tired and cold with a good five miles ahead of us.
We had hoped for some good butt sliding opportunities heading down to the Notch but the soft powder tended to snowplow up and put an end to most attempts. Off the ridge we were at least out of the bite of the wind and we were treated to some late day views out towards Prospect, Pleasnt and Orne in Weeks State Park.
By the time we hit the spur to the Bunnell Notch trail it was getting dark. The spur saves quite a bit of distance and elevation over having to head down to the Cabot Trail and work back up to the Notch.
The sign where the spur meets the Bunnell Notch trail and the one where the Kilkenny Ridge trail makes its way southward showed similar damage to the one at the Pond. Looked to me like someone had hacked at it with an axe.
Those two signs also posed a conundrum. The first states that it is 2.9 miles to York Pond Road. Five minutes of walking later and the next says that it is 3.3 miles to York Pond Road! Very disheartening
Darkness fell upon us as we made our way up over Bunnell Notch and then down the other side. Just knowing it was pretty much all downhill from there on felt good. I wondered if the moon would rise to give us some extra light but when it did make an appearance it was heavily veiled by cloud and of no help.
Mad Townie and Coldfeet took turns in trailblazing and did a great job following the trail without the aid of blazes that were at best difficult to spot and at worst hidden by snow. The trail wound down the valley crossing many small streams and wet spots. Postholing into running water adds a new twist to an already annoying pastime!
After what seemed an age we popped out of the woods onto an old logging road where the only sign was one pointing to where we had exited naming it the Bunnell Noth Trail.
This was where we collectively made our first navigation error. Everybodys instinct said "Turn right" However, the map indicated that after several stream crossings we would hit a logging road where we would make a left turn. This seemed to fit and my altimiter appeared to confirm that we were at that point. The compass bearing up the logging road also fit what we expected.
This would all have been fine and dandy if we were where we thought we were! We were in fact at least a mile off of that point and at a spot indicated by a small kink on the AMC map and completely missing from my Topo! generated map. Neither map shows the presence of the logging road we found ourselves following uphill.
After w hile the logging road became overgrown and the only side trail headed back into the woods on the side we had exited. Obviously wrong. We decuded that this must have been part of the old trail and that we should have made our instinctive right turn. We headed back down. At least we were not lost. We might not have known exactly where we were, but we did know we were on the trail - the sign said so!
We tramped along the logging road in the pitch dark and then we heard it... howling! Sounded an awful lot like wolves but we decided it was coyote, several coyote!
At least the going on the road was fairly easy and it was clear of brush and obviously went somewhere. We crossed several small streams and started on a slight uphill section. Re-reading the map we now, correctly, deduced that we where still some way off where we originally thought but heading in the right direction. Coming upon the York Pond Trail sign was cause for much lightening of spirits! Another ten minutes or so found us back at the parking lot. I had occasionally been pressing the remote start button for my van and its lights blazing were another welcome sight.
Our trials were not completely over yet though. The earlier wet snow had found its way into every crack around each door and had since frozen solid. I managed to yank open a couple of doors on my van and, with the engine already starting to warm, it proved a haven for Skimom and Ivy who were both feeling the cold. Mad Townie had more difficulty getting into his vehicle and had to chip away at the ice for some time.
We made our way back to Barnes Field where we were treated to burgers by Shizzmac. The best burger I have ever had! Many faces both new and familiar were there and the trials of the day faded as tales were told and acquaintences made and renewed.
Now... I'm dying to hear what tale the others tell!
Bob
Oh, and after navigating by commitee decision... we also headed in the wrong direction for a while!
But... We all had a blast! (I reserve the right to edit this statement once I get more feedback from the others!)
As part of the VFTT Winter Gathering 7.5 festivities our group set out to bag Cabot by doing the loop in via Unknown Pond, along the Kilkenny Ridge trail and out via the Bunnell Notch trail.
The group was Skimom, Poison Ivy, Mad Townie, Coldfeet and myself. For Coldfeet it would be his first White Mountain hike! What an introduction to the region!
After getting together at Barnes Field we headed over to the trail head off York Pond Road. It had rained hard all night and was still spitting threateningly. At the trail head however it turned to snow, wet snow, but snow all the same.
We hit the trail a little after 9, a very late start for such a long hike and guaranteeing we would be hiking out in the dark. (Ivy and I are now sworn off long loop hikes on new trails that end after dark!)
The Unknown Pond trail rises steadily over three miles up to the pond at around 3,000' The grey skies continued to dump wet snow on us and while others threw on shells to stay dry from the outside (but got wet from the inside) I kept on trucking in my Marmot Windshirt maintaining an equilibrium of dampness from either direciton.
As the trail swung near the stream we could see that it was a raging torrent and we wondered how the crossing would be. Those first to the crossing (I was bringing up the rear as usual) deemed it too risky but found some obliging bowdowns a little further upstream. A sturdy trunk to walk on and another higher up for a handrail. Got us all across with dry feet.
After having joked that the next seven crossings would be easier we were almost immediately presented with another crossing that appeared worse than the first. As the others scouted unsuccessfuly for an alternative I studied the actual crossing point and decided to give it a shot.
While the amount of water raging down was intimidating the crossing stones were barely submerged and a little faith in ones boots, good placement of poles and steady nerves got us all across safely.
The third, and last, major crossing was easier than the others and a simple splash and hop.
The constant uphill grade, although not steep, wore the less fit of the group (most of us) down and as altitude was gained so snow amounts increased and the temperature dropped. The wind also picked up as we arrived at Unknown Pond.
We took a very quick food break in the shelter of some trees before heading off again. With the temperature plunging below freezing everyone found zips on packs and clothing icing up from the earlier damp snow. Time to get moving. With the snow and mists there were no views to be had at the Pond.
Once around the Pond an on the Kilkenny Ridge trail we came into deeper snow. Those of us without snowshoes were cursing the decision to leave them behind. With little prior traffic and unseasonably recent warm temperatures the snow was very soft and we postholed often.
Apart from slowing us down postholing is incredibly tiring and when we regrouped at the spur trail for The Horn the guys decided to keep pressing on to the Bulge while Skimom and Ivy headed up to bag The Horn for the NE 100 Highest. I, for one, did not need the extra distance and elevation gain on an already long and behind schedule hike. The other guys were, I'm sure, of a similar mind.
The other two guys had brought snowshoes and while they forged a path ahead I followed on attempting to float on their trail but postholing more often than not. We cruised (!) over The Bulge and on to Cabot. Skimom and Ivy caught up to us just shy of Cabot summit and just in time to see me take my best yet post holes. I went in right up to my butt and it took a couple of minutes to extricate myself.
All smiles on the summit for a group shot then we gladly headed downhill to the Cabin for another quick break out of the now wicked wind. Headlamps were fished out ready for the oncoming night and we set off again, tired and cold with a good five miles ahead of us.
We had hoped for some good butt sliding opportunities heading down to the Notch but the soft powder tended to snowplow up and put an end to most attempts. Off the ridge we were at least out of the bite of the wind and we were treated to some late day views out towards Prospect, Pleasnt and Orne in Weeks State Park.
By the time we hit the spur to the Bunnell Notch trail it was getting dark. The spur saves quite a bit of distance and elevation over having to head down to the Cabot Trail and work back up to the Notch.
The sign where the spur meets the Bunnell Notch trail and the one where the Kilkenny Ridge trail makes its way southward showed similar damage to the one at the Pond. Looked to me like someone had hacked at it with an axe.
Those two signs also posed a conundrum. The first states that it is 2.9 miles to York Pond Road. Five minutes of walking later and the next says that it is 3.3 miles to York Pond Road! Very disheartening
Darkness fell upon us as we made our way up over Bunnell Notch and then down the other side. Just knowing it was pretty much all downhill from there on felt good. I wondered if the moon would rise to give us some extra light but when it did make an appearance it was heavily veiled by cloud and of no help.
Mad Townie and Coldfeet took turns in trailblazing and did a great job following the trail without the aid of blazes that were at best difficult to spot and at worst hidden by snow. The trail wound down the valley crossing many small streams and wet spots. Postholing into running water adds a new twist to an already annoying pastime!
After what seemed an age we popped out of the woods onto an old logging road where the only sign was one pointing to where we had exited naming it the Bunnell Noth Trail.
This was where we collectively made our first navigation error. Everybodys instinct said "Turn right" However, the map indicated that after several stream crossings we would hit a logging road where we would make a left turn. This seemed to fit and my altimiter appeared to confirm that we were at that point. The compass bearing up the logging road also fit what we expected.
This would all have been fine and dandy if we were where we thought we were! We were in fact at least a mile off of that point and at a spot indicated by a small kink on the AMC map and completely missing from my Topo! generated map. Neither map shows the presence of the logging road we found ourselves following uphill.
After w hile the logging road became overgrown and the only side trail headed back into the woods on the side we had exited. Obviously wrong. We decuded that this must have been part of the old trail and that we should have made our instinctive right turn. We headed back down. At least we were not lost. We might not have known exactly where we were, but we did know we were on the trail - the sign said so!
We tramped along the logging road in the pitch dark and then we heard it... howling! Sounded an awful lot like wolves but we decided it was coyote, several coyote!
At least the going on the road was fairly easy and it was clear of brush and obviously went somewhere. We crossed several small streams and started on a slight uphill section. Re-reading the map we now, correctly, deduced that we where still some way off where we originally thought but heading in the right direction. Coming upon the York Pond Trail sign was cause for much lightening of spirits! Another ten minutes or so found us back at the parking lot. I had occasionally been pressing the remote start button for my van and its lights blazing were another welcome sight.
Our trials were not completely over yet though. The earlier wet snow had found its way into every crack around each door and had since frozen solid. I managed to yank open a couple of doors on my van and, with the engine already starting to warm, it proved a haven for Skimom and Ivy who were both feeling the cold. Mad Townie had more difficulty getting into his vehicle and had to chip away at the ice for some time.
We made our way back to Barnes Field where we were treated to burgers by Shizzmac. The best burger I have ever had! Many faces both new and familiar were there and the trials of the day faded as tales were told and acquaintences made and renewed.
Now... I'm dying to hear what tale the others tell!
Bob
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