Bob Farrell
New member
Name of mountain(s): Horn, Bulge, and Cabot
Name of trail(s): Unknown Pond (from Mill Brook Rd.) and Kilkenny Ridge
Farmer Bob and Jenifer
Hike date(s): 10/2-3
Weather and trail conditions: Started out sunny and stayed sunny. Low in the upper 30’s, high around 65. The Unknown Pond Tr. was in good shape but it was slippery due to wet leaves from when it rained the night before. The Kilkenny Ridge Tr. between the Horn Spur and Cabot had a bunch of cut pine branches from previous trail maintenance. Coming down from Cabot had slippery tree roots, which made it difficult to descend
Total miles hiked: 11.4 8:09
Trip report:
10/2- We went up to Dolly Copp campgrounds and got a campsite. It started to rain when we were setting up the tent. After the tent was up, the rain let up and we started a fire and sat in front of it for a while. When we went into the tent to go to sleep, it started to rain again.
10/3- Around 1:40am, I was awakened by something lighting up the tent. I first though it was from a car but I quickly noticed that it was the moon. I went outside and the moon and stars were out.
We woke up at 4am. We made breakfast and broke camp. We were on the road by 5:45am.
We took Rt. 16 north to get Rt. 110, in Berlin. We drove through Berlin and never seen Rt.110. I continued on Rt. 16 north looking for Rt.110. All of a sudden we were driving through Dummer, NH. Then we drove into Milan and I pulled over to look at the map. We definitely missed Rt. 110 in Berlin. I found out that I could go back and get on Rt. 110B to Rt. 110A to Rt. 110. We got on Rt. 110 with no problem and found Mill Brook Rd.
We drove to the end of Mill Brook Rd. and parked the car. We geared up and headed towards the clearing at the end of Mill Brook Rd. to find the trailhead. We didn’t find it and I pulled out the map again. I noticed that the trailhead was before the parking lot so we walked back to the car and headed down the road.
The trailhead was just past a bridge. We were finally on the trail by 7:35am
Most the hike up the Unknown Pond trail was dark. The sun was hiding behind all the trees. Plus we both weren’t really in the mood to hike.
We got up to Unknown Pond and took a break. The sun was out and we could see the pond and the Horn in the background. Suddenly we were both in the mood to hike.
The hike over to the Horn Spur was interesting. There was a section of the Kilkenny Ridge Tr. that we seemed to weave around big rocks for quite a while. Every now and then we got a glimpse of the Horn. There was a small group of hikers at the Horn Junction. At the Horn junction, there isn’t a sign for the Horn tr., just a Kilkenny Ridge Tr. sign. The hikers that were there said that that is the trail to the Horn. So off we went.
Towards the summit of the Horn, the trail got tricky. There was a big rock to climb up first. Then another one. Then another one. Then at the very end, there’s a huge boulder to hop up on. While I was thinking how I was going to get up there, Jenifer looked for an alternate route. As I tried to get up the Horn, a backpacker showed up. We said Hello and he hopped up the boulder. Then I did the same thing. By the time I got on top, Jenifer was climbing up a short, steep pitch to the top. Jenifer took a lunch break; I broke out the Scudder’s Guide and compass. I was amazed how many mountains I could see. Also many peaks in Maine and Vermont. We were on the Horn for about a half hour, soaking in the sun and the view.
Then we were off for Cabot.
The hike over the Bulge and to Cabot seemed much longer than 1.1 miles. We took a short break at the Bulge, and then we went up Cabot. On the way up we passed the group that we saw at the Horn trail. We finally made it up to Cabot and we had the summit to ourselves.
We were there for a couple of minutes, and then we headed over to the old fire tower clearing.
We got to the clearing and the views were great. I took a lunch break, checked out the Cabot Cabin, and then we headed back.
The descent went well. The trail dried up quite a bit but it was still slippery.
By the time we got back to the trailhead, we were both pretty tired.
It was a great hike and the weather was amazing. We started off with several layers on, including gloves and hats. We ended with T-shirt and shorts. Not bad for an early October hike.
To see pictures, go to http://community.webshots.com/album/196141870VjxrYl
Name of trail(s): Unknown Pond (from Mill Brook Rd.) and Kilkenny Ridge
Farmer Bob and Jenifer
Hike date(s): 10/2-3
Weather and trail conditions: Started out sunny and stayed sunny. Low in the upper 30’s, high around 65. The Unknown Pond Tr. was in good shape but it was slippery due to wet leaves from when it rained the night before. The Kilkenny Ridge Tr. between the Horn Spur and Cabot had a bunch of cut pine branches from previous trail maintenance. Coming down from Cabot had slippery tree roots, which made it difficult to descend
Total miles hiked: 11.4 8:09
Trip report:
10/2- We went up to Dolly Copp campgrounds and got a campsite. It started to rain when we were setting up the tent. After the tent was up, the rain let up and we started a fire and sat in front of it for a while. When we went into the tent to go to sleep, it started to rain again.
10/3- Around 1:40am, I was awakened by something lighting up the tent. I first though it was from a car but I quickly noticed that it was the moon. I went outside and the moon and stars were out.
We woke up at 4am. We made breakfast and broke camp. We were on the road by 5:45am.
We took Rt. 16 north to get Rt. 110, in Berlin. We drove through Berlin and never seen Rt.110. I continued on Rt. 16 north looking for Rt.110. All of a sudden we were driving through Dummer, NH. Then we drove into Milan and I pulled over to look at the map. We definitely missed Rt. 110 in Berlin. I found out that I could go back and get on Rt. 110B to Rt. 110A to Rt. 110. We got on Rt. 110 with no problem and found Mill Brook Rd.
We drove to the end of Mill Brook Rd. and parked the car. We geared up and headed towards the clearing at the end of Mill Brook Rd. to find the trailhead. We didn’t find it and I pulled out the map again. I noticed that the trailhead was before the parking lot so we walked back to the car and headed down the road.
The trailhead was just past a bridge. We were finally on the trail by 7:35am
Most the hike up the Unknown Pond trail was dark. The sun was hiding behind all the trees. Plus we both weren’t really in the mood to hike.
We got up to Unknown Pond and took a break. The sun was out and we could see the pond and the Horn in the background. Suddenly we were both in the mood to hike.
The hike over to the Horn Spur was interesting. There was a section of the Kilkenny Ridge Tr. that we seemed to weave around big rocks for quite a while. Every now and then we got a glimpse of the Horn. There was a small group of hikers at the Horn Junction. At the Horn junction, there isn’t a sign for the Horn tr., just a Kilkenny Ridge Tr. sign. The hikers that were there said that that is the trail to the Horn. So off we went.
Towards the summit of the Horn, the trail got tricky. There was a big rock to climb up first. Then another one. Then another one. Then at the very end, there’s a huge boulder to hop up on. While I was thinking how I was going to get up there, Jenifer looked for an alternate route. As I tried to get up the Horn, a backpacker showed up. We said Hello and he hopped up the boulder. Then I did the same thing. By the time I got on top, Jenifer was climbing up a short, steep pitch to the top. Jenifer took a lunch break; I broke out the Scudder’s Guide and compass. I was amazed how many mountains I could see. Also many peaks in Maine and Vermont. We were on the Horn for about a half hour, soaking in the sun and the view.
Then we were off for Cabot.
The hike over the Bulge and to Cabot seemed much longer than 1.1 miles. We took a short break at the Bulge, and then we went up Cabot. On the way up we passed the group that we saw at the Horn trail. We finally made it up to Cabot and we had the summit to ourselves.
We were there for a couple of minutes, and then we headed over to the old fire tower clearing.
We got to the clearing and the views were great. I took a lunch break, checked out the Cabot Cabin, and then we headed back.
The descent went well. The trail dried up quite a bit but it was still slippery.
By the time we got back to the trailhead, we were both pretty tired.
It was a great hike and the weather was amazing. We started off with several layers on, including gloves and hats. We ended with T-shirt and shorts. Not bad for an early October hike.
To see pictures, go to http://community.webshots.com/album/196141870VjxrYl
