buckyball1
New member
Continuing with the low hanging fruit in an area probably not hiked much by Views members--Lincoln to Topsfield, sort of inland, NW of Downeast 
. The base elevation is fairly low here and these peaks, while small, are fairly "obvious"
I went up Rt 95, got off at Lincoln exit and headed through Lee toward Topsfield. Pitch black, but I noticed "lights" on the old trail approach i hoped to use for Rollins on my way back in the afternoon-odd, more later. At Topsfield i swung north on Rt 1 to Brookton, then turned toward Forest City. As i passed through Forest, i noted it was simply a RR crossing.
Greenland 1205'-I had to park on the Forest/Forest City Rd since the old road i hoped to drive toward Greenland was posted "no cars". That was just as well as the possibility of damaging a car undercarriage was high a bit further up. The hike was straightforward up old, overgrown roads and then into the woods thru hardwoods "jail bars" and finally moderately dense evergreen near the top. Summit had small open area in heavy woods that looked like a very old road-no views....back to Rt 1, headed south to
Tomah-1095'-I turned east on a logging road network just north of Tomah Lake and worked my way slowly to the east side of the peak. The 'whack was short, but steep-no problems. The descent was a little troublesome as the slope was all rocks covered with light foliage which hit the "traps"..back to Rt 1, south to Topsfield and back west on Rt 6.
You might notice today was one of those "logistics" days where success depends on good/lucky planning and moderate hiking/'whacking. As i was running ahead of schedule, i stopped at the road up to Musquash (which i'd done-maybe?) and hustled up to the NE summit so i could 'whack over to the possibly higher SE summit--now all are happy?...back on Rt 6 , headed west
Near Carroll, i had a choice to make for a route to
Bowers-1195'-I opted for my "alternate" road approach-both possibilities showed a "closed gate" in Delorme. Got lucky; the gate was open and i met a bird hunter who helped me reach the N side of Bowers while keeping the Forester intact-thanks. I parked about 4 miles off Rt 6 and had an uneventful hike to the summit-like Greenland, it was chest high brambles on wet, overgrown old log roads (think Soubunge and high drag factor), then thick, small, hardwood and a smidge of evergreen near the summit. The top was somewhat open with occluded views. Nice hike...back to Rt 6, still headed west past Lee to
Rollins-1010'-surprise, my planned route was now in the middle of the First Wind Rollins North project. I never made the connection FW was moving dirt all over the mountain with large equipment and it was a bit iffy re walking "thru" their operation. A few hard stares (and a few waves), but nobody bothered me.I tried to stay on the old, overgrown trail/road, but there were places where it was obliterated by the huge swaths of open area/dirt/mud. I was always able to pick up the old road and it ran right through the contractors explosives storage area (even worse than a baited bear barrel ). The hike felt very strange under these circumstances and i was glad to reach the top and find an unexpected old tower site (all 4 cement pillars with rusted steel rods-apparently removed in the 70s) in the now wooded summit area. Quick descent and getaway...... Another "iffy" access hike- i haven't even written up a few others, but i do get there.
good day
jim
. The base elevation is fairly low here and these peaks, while small, are fairly "obvious"I went up Rt 95, got off at Lincoln exit and headed through Lee toward Topsfield. Pitch black, but I noticed "lights" on the old trail approach i hoped to use for Rollins on my way back in the afternoon-odd, more later. At Topsfield i swung north on Rt 1 to Brookton, then turned toward Forest City. As i passed through Forest, i noted it was simply a RR crossing.
Greenland 1205'-I had to park on the Forest/Forest City Rd since the old road i hoped to drive toward Greenland was posted "no cars". That was just as well as the possibility of damaging a car undercarriage was high a bit further up. The hike was straightforward up old, overgrown roads and then into the woods thru hardwoods "jail bars" and finally moderately dense evergreen near the top. Summit had small open area in heavy woods that looked like a very old road-no views....back to Rt 1, headed south to
Tomah-1095'-I turned east on a logging road network just north of Tomah Lake and worked my way slowly to the east side of the peak. The 'whack was short, but steep-no problems. The descent was a little troublesome as the slope was all rocks covered with light foliage which hit the "traps"..back to Rt 1, south to Topsfield and back west on Rt 6.
You might notice today was one of those "logistics" days where success depends on good/lucky planning and moderate hiking/'whacking. As i was running ahead of schedule, i stopped at the road up to Musquash (which i'd done-maybe?
) and hustled up to the NE summit so i could 'whack over to the possibly higher SE summit--now all are happy?...back on Rt 6 , headed westNear Carroll, i had a choice to make for a route to
Bowers-1195'-I opted for my "alternate" road approach-both possibilities showed a "closed gate" in Delorme. Got lucky; the gate was open and i met a bird hunter who helped me reach the N side of Bowers while keeping the Forester intact-thanks. I parked about 4 miles off Rt 6 and had an uneventful hike to the summit-like Greenland, it was chest high brambles on wet, overgrown old log roads (think Soubunge and high drag factor), then thick, small, hardwood and a smidge of evergreen near the summit. The top was somewhat open with occluded views. Nice hike...back to Rt 6, still headed west past Lee to
Rollins-1010'-surprise, my planned route was now in the middle of the First Wind Rollins North project. I never made the connection
FW was moving dirt all over the mountain with large equipment and it was a bit iffy re walking "thru" their operation. A few hard stares (and a few waves), but nobody bothered me.I tried to stay on the old, overgrown trail/road, but there were places where it was obliterated by the huge swaths of open area/dirt/mud. I was always able to pick up the old road and it ran right through the contractors explosives storage area (even worse than a baited bear barrel ). The hike felt very strange under these circumstances and i was glad to reach the top and find an unexpected old tower site (all 4 cement pillars with rusted steel rods-apparently removed in the 70s) in the now wooded summit area. Quick descent and getaway...... Another "iffy" access hike- i haven't even written up a few others, but i do get there.good day
jim
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