J
Jeff Miller
Guest
12/24/07 I realize this is a week late but the information may still be useful. There aren't many postings for this mountain.
Trail Conditions: Bunnell Notch Trail appears to be the only trail used this winter, at least up to the point I went. It was filled in since the last hiker but still discernible most of the way. The rain the night before created a couple of inches of rough crust which was energy sapping to travel over/through. The main issue with the trail quality is that it appears to be heavily used by moose up to the Kilkenny Ridge Trail juncture, and is therefore heavily post holed. The new recent snow should alleviate the crust issue but I'm sure the moose are still walking it.
Special Equipment: Snowshoes of course, and due to the post holes bigger might be better. I used 22" MSRs and had a heavy pack but didn't bother to put on the tails I carried so merely a suggestion. I doubt the trail gets used enough to ever be bare bootable in the dead of winter, and the terrain doesn't appear to ever warrant crampons.
Comments: Note that the Fish Hatchery does not close the gates to the road during the winter, so the 4pm deadline is not a concern as warned by the AMC guide and road signage. York Pond Road is plowed the whole way but can be icy. The section of the Bunnell Notch Trail skirting the south flank of the Cabot ridge isn't very well marked and easy to lose. Fortunately there is enough scrub that you can tell where the trail doesn't go, and you can guess your way along fairly well if there is no human-packed trail to follow.
Trail Conditions: Bunnell Notch Trail appears to be the only trail used this winter, at least up to the point I went. It was filled in since the last hiker but still discernible most of the way. The rain the night before created a couple of inches of rough crust which was energy sapping to travel over/through. The main issue with the trail quality is that it appears to be heavily used by moose up to the Kilkenny Ridge Trail juncture, and is therefore heavily post holed. The new recent snow should alleviate the crust issue but I'm sure the moose are still walking it.
Special Equipment: Snowshoes of course, and due to the post holes bigger might be better. I used 22" MSRs and had a heavy pack but didn't bother to put on the tails I carried so merely a suggestion. I doubt the trail gets used enough to ever be bare bootable in the dead of winter, and the terrain doesn't appear to ever warrant crampons.
Comments: Note that the Fish Hatchery does not close the gates to the road during the winter, so the 4pm deadline is not a concern as warned by the AMC guide and road signage. York Pond Road is plowed the whole way but can be icy. The section of the Bunnell Notch Trail skirting the south flank of the Cabot ridge isn't very well marked and easy to lose. Fortunately there is enough scrub that you can tell where the trail doesn't go, and you can guess your way along fairly well if there is no human-packed trail to follow.
