Mt Cabot - Bunnel Notch Trail Update

[peakbagger]

I ran into the maintainer of this trail this morning. During the fall (sounded like Sept/Oct), the USFS relocated and upgraded parts of the trail. It sounds like it wasnt as major of a relo as expected, but anything is an improvement. Mostly got a couple of sections out of wet areas. I do not know if the road is plowed to the trailhead in the winter.

The trail does have the benefit of being on the east side of the mountain so it should be a bit warmer than the west approach via the closed trail.

 

[KayakDan]

The road was plowed to the Bunnell Notch trailhead and parking for 3 cars plowed out last year. Should be the same this year. It's a good idea to check in at the hatchery to avoid being locked in,but generally the gate is left open in winter.

 

[SherpaKroto]

We were up there a few weeks ago and the trail was in fine shape: a lot less wet than in the past (York Pond Trail is still another story). The road does get plowed to the trailhead as far as I know, and the gate is not locked in winter.

 

[darren]

I was up there with Sherpa and the trail was in pretty good shape, although still a little wet in areas. The biggest impression I got was that for a new trail that is not very distict there are very few blazes on it. Like 2 or 3 per mile in some sections. After fresh snow, that trail could be pretty hard to follow.

- darren

 

[darren]

I'd hike it again with some paint and put up blazes if required. Who is "in charge" of the trail now?

I think we promised Seema that we would hike it again anyway....

- darren

ps: too bad we cant use empty Dr. Mc bottles for blazes...the VFTT crew would have enough to mark the whole trail by now

 

[Blue]

Yes you have to hike it again................ for my 48th 4K!

(Doctor is optional)

 

[peakbagger]

The maintainer is a local Berlin fireman, who is a also a heck of a kayaker. He has been wanting to remark the trail for a couple of years but the forest service did not want it reblazed prior to the relo, I expect that he will be improving the blazing this spring (unless its reclassified as a wilderness area!)

 

[darren]

Ask him if he needs any help doing it and if he does, then we can make a VFTT trail day out of it. That would be very cool.

- darren

 

[spencer]

Great idea, Darren! Maybe VFTT has become enough of a club to nominate a Trails Coordinator who could find trailwork volunteer gigs and set dates for VFTT trail days...

paint, rock bars, chainsaws and beer go very well together

spencer

 

[SherpaKroto]

paint, rock bars, chainsaws and beer go very well together ...

Hopefully in that order

I'd be happy to lend a hand, regardless of the trail. I can carry beer. Great - another excuse for a Gathering!

Blue: love your Sherpavatar slide show

 

[Eric Savage]

Which Trailhead?

The road was plowed to the Bunnell Notch trailhead and parking for 3 cars plowed out last year. Should be the same this year. It's a good idea to check in at the hatchery to avoid being locked in,but generally the gate is left open in winter.

To clarify, I belive that the parking is at the York Pond Trail trailhead. The Bunnell Notch Trail starts about 1/4 mile down the York Pond Trail. (Or can you now drive down the old York Pond trail?). Or maybe they're renaming the trail section?

Echoing RoySwkr, the section west of the Kilkenny Ridge Trail junction looks more like a brook bed than a trail. The last time I was there a large blowdown had become a natural gate against casual hikers trying to keep going on the Bunnell Notch Trail. There's little need for this neglected section now that KR Trail is in there, especially if the Cabot Trail isn't getting much use on the lower end.