lx93
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Set out from the Grafton Notch parking lot on the AT.
Minimal amount of blow-downs, nothing really insurmountable, but some were thick enough that a hacksaw won’t do the job.
Lots of thick water ice, starting at 2,100(?) feet. Due to temps (60-ish F), it was soft, and Stabilicers were enough. Had the temps been a lot colder, and the ice harder, crampons may have been necessary. The stream crossings were not a significant challenge, but the melted streams were welcome, for it makes filling up on water a lot easier.
The trail was pretty well tracked-out & white-blazed. Plenty of snow still left, but not enough for snowshoes. Lots of small, 100-200 feet ups & downs, sort of like Wildcat Ridge in the White Mts.; it's not like you are going up the entire way.
Two possible points of confusion; the first is where what according to the AMC map had to have been the Old Speck Trail to the left (ascending on the AT) isn’t marked at all- at that point no blazes on this trail, no double white blazes on the AT to indicate a junction, no sign, no tracks, nothing. Nowhere else even looked remotely like a trail, and this looked very much like a trail, well brushed-out, etc. It descends steeply from the AT here.
The second was some time after this unmarked junction where the tracks left the blazed AT & returned shortly later. Ascending, I could feel myself start to sink into the snow even though I was following the tracks. So I just retraced my steps to where the tracks diverged from the white blazes. Sure enough, even though I wasn’t following the tracks anymore, I was no longer sinking into the snow. Coming back down, I put some dead branches across the “wrong” way, and drew an arrow in the snow on the “right” way.
The 0.3 mile spur to the summit where the Old Speck Trail comes back a 2nd time to the AT, and the summit itself, however, are both very clearly marked in green-lettered signs w/ white backgrounds.
There are plenty of views of the summit coming up. The summit view has been expanded eastward by a clear-cut. I’m not sure if any of the Rangeley/Stratton 4,000 footer peaks were visible; I do know that I didn’t see Kathadin like I had from the Bigelows about 2 weeks ago.
But if you can summon up the courage to climb a 25-30’(?) fully vertical ladder on the summit’s fire tower, you will be treated to a STUNNING view of the Presidentials looking westward. I wasn’t scared at all by the Knife’s Edge on Kathadin, but I had to take a few deep breaths before descending this ladder. I honestly think that if there had been an elevator to descend from the tower, I would’ve paid to take it!
The parking lot at Grafton Notch is paved, w/ room for 30(?) vehicles, no fee unless parking overnight. But if you stop on a shoulder on Hwy. 27 to take pix of the Old Speck summit & The Eyebrow, be aware that it’s possible to get stuck in the soft, sandy soil (wasn’t even slightly muddy) if the shoulder is steep enough- only took me 5 minutes to get out of it, but that was enough to make me worry. If you have friends who freak out if you don’t call them to let them know you’re safe, do be aware that in the morning I got a signal about 3 miles from the parking lot, but not in the afternoon.
Also, I found a cell phone on the summit; it was buried in snow, so I really doubt if it still works. But if it’s yours & you want it to try to see if you can salvage your phone book, PM me.
All in all, not the best view I’ve ever seen, but one that made the hike well worth the while. If only the weather had been as nice today...
Minimal amount of blow-downs, nothing really insurmountable, but some were thick enough that a hacksaw won’t do the job.
Lots of thick water ice, starting at 2,100(?) feet. Due to temps (60-ish F), it was soft, and Stabilicers were enough. Had the temps been a lot colder, and the ice harder, crampons may have been necessary. The stream crossings were not a significant challenge, but the melted streams were welcome, for it makes filling up on water a lot easier.
The trail was pretty well tracked-out & white-blazed. Plenty of snow still left, but not enough for snowshoes. Lots of small, 100-200 feet ups & downs, sort of like Wildcat Ridge in the White Mts.; it's not like you are going up the entire way.
Two possible points of confusion; the first is where what according to the AMC map had to have been the Old Speck Trail to the left (ascending on the AT) isn’t marked at all- at that point no blazes on this trail, no double white blazes on the AT to indicate a junction, no sign, no tracks, nothing. Nowhere else even looked remotely like a trail, and this looked very much like a trail, well brushed-out, etc. It descends steeply from the AT here.
The second was some time after this unmarked junction where the tracks left the blazed AT & returned shortly later. Ascending, I could feel myself start to sink into the snow even though I was following the tracks. So I just retraced my steps to where the tracks diverged from the white blazes. Sure enough, even though I wasn’t following the tracks anymore, I was no longer sinking into the snow. Coming back down, I put some dead branches across the “wrong” way, and drew an arrow in the snow on the “right” way.
The 0.3 mile spur to the summit where the Old Speck Trail comes back a 2nd time to the AT, and the summit itself, however, are both very clearly marked in green-lettered signs w/ white backgrounds.
There are plenty of views of the summit coming up. The summit view has been expanded eastward by a clear-cut. I’m not sure if any of the Rangeley/Stratton 4,000 footer peaks were visible; I do know that I didn’t see Kathadin like I had from the Bigelows about 2 weeks ago.
But if you can summon up the courage to climb a 25-30’(?) fully vertical ladder on the summit’s fire tower, you will be treated to a STUNNING view of the Presidentials looking westward. I wasn’t scared at all by the Knife’s Edge on Kathadin, but I had to take a few deep breaths before descending this ladder. I honestly think that if there had been an elevator to descend from the tower, I would’ve paid to take it!
The parking lot at Grafton Notch is paved, w/ room for 30(?) vehicles, no fee unless parking overnight. But if you stop on a shoulder on Hwy. 27 to take pix of the Old Speck summit & The Eyebrow, be aware that it’s possible to get stuck in the soft, sandy soil (wasn’t even slightly muddy) if the shoulder is steep enough- only took me 5 minutes to get out of it, but that was enough to make me worry. If you have friends who freak out if you don’t call them to let them know you’re safe, do be aware that in the morning I got a signal about 3 miles from the parking lot, but not in the afternoon.
Also, I found a cell phone on the summit; it was buried in snow, so I really doubt if it still works. But if it’s yours & you want it to try to see if you can salvage your phone book, PM me.
All in all, not the best view I’ve ever seen, but one that made the hike well worth the while. If only the weather had been as nice today...
