KayakDan
New member
As a final trip for our backpacking season,it was decided that we would do the Unknown Pond,Cabot,Bunnell Notch loop. After carefully reading McRat's hysterical trip report,it was about time to do a long planned trip.
Saturday morning we arrived at the trailhead fashionably late,as it was going to be an easy cruise to the pond. We were surprised to find a shiny new trail sign,making the pond a lot more known,but only one other car at the trailhead.
After a short pleasant walk enjoying the beautiful display of trilliums,we started easing into the climb. It was painfully apparent that Linda was not having a good day and she was soon struggling on a trail that should be easy. We carried on,with some extra breaks,and came to "the Big Water Crossing". After moving downstream,we managed to get across,only to see another group on the other side with a puzzled" how'd you do that?" look. They had two dogs which we found out later,had to be carried across.
On we went arriving at Unknown Pond in time to set up camp and enjoy the beer,ok both beers I toted up. We sat by the water during dinner,facing the climb that awaited us in the morning....and then the frogs started. Soon we had a frenzied symphony of noise so loud that conversation wasn't possible.
Sunday morning the silence had returned,and we packed up and headed out on the Kilkenny. The climb to the Horn was steep and slippery at some points,but we made good time,and dropped our packs for the trip up to the view. We soon met a group of 4 with several dogs,and they were doing the loop in reverse. We chatted for a bit then went on.
The col between The Bulge and Cabot was a lot lower than I imagined,and it made for a long day with a full overnight pack on the steep slippery areas,with just enough iceto be treacherous. And of course,to make it more interesting,the sky opened up and poured on us. After a long tiring pitch up,we arrived at the Cabot summit-enjoyed the no view,then headed for the cabin.
The cabin is a lot further down than I remembered,and after a while I began thinking"did I miss something?" But there it was,our refuge from the storm,now enveloped in thick fog. We settled in for dinner,and surprisingly,had no other guests for the night. During the night the rain blasted and the cabin shook with the intense wind,but hey,I was way too tired to care where we ended up in the morning!
Monday morning,after a liesurely breakfast ,we packed up and right on cue the sun came out as we left. We made quick work of the trail down to the Kilkenney Ridge,and out through the Bunnell Notch trail,ablaze with a variety of beautiful flowers,making it a pleasant hike.
We arrived at the trailhead,only to find the group of 4 with the dogs arived at the same time. They were surprised to see us steaming down the trail,covering 4.8 miles in the same time they did the 3.3 from the Pond. We were on a mission,and Linda got a sudden burst of energy when we hit the logging road.
All in all a great trip,spectacular weather and views,and our third season to summit Cabot. Backpacking season is now officially over till late October.
Saturday morning we arrived at the trailhead fashionably late,as it was going to be an easy cruise to the pond. We were surprised to find a shiny new trail sign,making the pond a lot more known,but only one other car at the trailhead.
After a short pleasant walk enjoying the beautiful display of trilliums,we started easing into the climb. It was painfully apparent that Linda was not having a good day and she was soon struggling on a trail that should be easy. We carried on,with some extra breaks,and came to "the Big Water Crossing". After moving downstream,we managed to get across,only to see another group on the other side with a puzzled" how'd you do that?" look. They had two dogs which we found out later,had to be carried across.
On we went arriving at Unknown Pond in time to set up camp and enjoy the beer,ok both beers I toted up. We sat by the water during dinner,facing the climb that awaited us in the morning....and then the frogs started. Soon we had a frenzied symphony of noise so loud that conversation wasn't possible.
Sunday morning the silence had returned,and we packed up and headed out on the Kilkenny. The climb to the Horn was steep and slippery at some points,but we made good time,and dropped our packs for the trip up to the view. We soon met a group of 4 with several dogs,and they were doing the loop in reverse. We chatted for a bit then went on.
The col between The Bulge and Cabot was a lot lower than I imagined,and it made for a long day with a full overnight pack on the steep slippery areas,with just enough iceto be treacherous. And of course,to make it more interesting,the sky opened up and poured on us. After a long tiring pitch up,we arrived at the Cabot summit-enjoyed the no view,then headed for the cabin.
The cabin is a lot further down than I remembered,and after a while I began thinking"did I miss something?" But there it was,our refuge from the storm,now enveloped in thick fog. We settled in for dinner,and surprisingly,had no other guests for the night. During the night the rain blasted and the cabin shook with the intense wind,but hey,I was way too tired to care where we ended up in the morning!
Monday morning,after a liesurely breakfast ,we packed up and right on cue the sun came out as we left. We made quick work of the trail down to the Kilkenney Ridge,and out through the Bunnell Notch trail,ablaze with a variety of beautiful flowers,making it a pleasant hike.
We arrived at the trailhead,only to find the group of 4 with the dogs arived at the same time. They were surprised to see us steaming down the trail,covering 4.8 miles in the same time they did the 3.3 from the Pond. We were on a mission,and Linda got a sudden burst of energy when we hit the logging road.
All in all a great trip,spectacular weather and views,and our third season to summit Cabot. Backpacking season is now officially over till late October.
