tomcat32
Active member
I had an free day Friday and wanted to get out since it was the nicest of the days for weather forecasted albeit cold. I hiked Little Spencer a few years ago and wanted to check it out again. Little and Big Spencer Mountains stand alone Northeast of Greenville and are pretty visible landmarks. On the drive up my car thermometer bottomed out at 1F in the area of Lily Bay State Park. Moosehead Lake was mostly unfrozen in the main body and sea smoke was rising from it on the frigid morning or lake smoke I guess would be more accurate. From downtown Greenville it is about 30 miles to the trailhead, 10 or so from Kokadjo.
Little Spencer is the toughest trail in the Moosehead region. It crosses numerous cliffbands and areas of scree and has a narrow chimney that has a fixed rope to aid in passage. The round trip hike is only 4 miles total and is an out and back. Views from the cliffs along the way take in most of Moosehead Lake with particularly good views towards Big Squaw (Moose) and fairly close ups of Kineo. Nearly 2000 vertical feet from the 3040 foot summit are views of the Lily Bay Range (Baker, Lily Bay, Number Four mtns), White Cap Range, Big Spencer, and Katahdin Mtns. Temp was a balmy 8F at the top. Light dry snow consistently covered everything and made for extremely slick conditions. It was a tedious descent particularly in the chimney section with the rope.
Next onto Number Four Mtn trailhead is about a half hour away near Kokadjo. This is a much more subtle hike through low scrubby trees that have grown in somewhat recent clear cuts. The trail is never excessively steep but consistent. At the top is an old firetower without its cabin (on ground nearby) From the tower awesome 360 views cover from the Bigelows to beyond Katahdin area. I had a rough go of the tower as I got higher than trees as the rungs were covered with rime and the 12 degree temp was much colder with winds gusting to around 30 or so. Just beyond the tower is a small clearing with more views and a crude bench (seems like nice place to see sunset). The summit is about 2800 feet. I would guess the vertical is 1200-1500 feet and the total distance is 4 miles roundtrip.
Looking at Katahdin over Big Spencer from Little Spencer summit
Looking down trail on descent towards Big Moose
Looking towards Big Moose over the Lake
Little Spencer is the toughest trail in the Moosehead region. It crosses numerous cliffbands and areas of scree and has a narrow chimney that has a fixed rope to aid in passage. The round trip hike is only 4 miles total and is an out and back. Views from the cliffs along the way take in most of Moosehead Lake with particularly good views towards Big Squaw (Moose) and fairly close ups of Kineo. Nearly 2000 vertical feet from the 3040 foot summit are views of the Lily Bay Range (Baker, Lily Bay, Number Four mtns), White Cap Range, Big Spencer, and Katahdin Mtns. Temp was a balmy 8F at the top. Light dry snow consistently covered everything and made for extremely slick conditions. It was a tedious descent particularly in the chimney section with the rope.
Next onto Number Four Mtn trailhead is about a half hour away near Kokadjo. This is a much more subtle hike through low scrubby trees that have grown in somewhat recent clear cuts. The trail is never excessively steep but consistent. At the top is an old firetower without its cabin (on ground nearby) From the tower awesome 360 views cover from the Bigelows to beyond Katahdin area. I had a rough go of the tower as I got higher than trees as the rungs were covered with rime and the 12 degree temp was much colder with winds gusting to around 30 or so. Just beyond the tower is a small clearing with more views and a crude bench (seems like nice place to see sunset). The summit is about 2800 feet. I would guess the vertical is 1200-1500 feet and the total distance is 4 miles roundtrip.
Looking at Katahdin over Big Spencer from Little Spencer summit Looking down trail on descent towards Big Moose Looking towards Big Moose over the Lake
