1SlowHiker
New member
Trails: Bunnell Notch and Kilkenny Ridge trails to Mts CABOT, THE BULGE, and THE HORN, to Unknown Pond trail.
Date: 12-07-12 (Thursday) – I know this is a bit dated.
Tail Condition: Bunnel Notch: dusting of snow, very wet, actual river crossings easy (hops or easy step-overs), but much of the lower trail itself was like a stream – hard to keep boots dry. Trail easy to follow even in the dark with orange ribbons on branches. Higher up; spots of ice, and a few ice flows hidden by dusting of snow on this day. A few easy step-over blow-downs. Kilkenny Ridge north of Cabot: a bit more snow than south of Cabot, just enough of crunchy snow to make micro-spikes useful. Many (a dozen or so) blow-downs, most easy step-overs or duck unders, but a few difficult walk-arounds. Several low spots with unsafe ice that had to be short bushwacked around. Unkown Pond Trail - don’t need traction -some marshy areas and a lot of bog areas hidden by leaves and light snow. I found parts of the near level trail hard to follow but in the difficult part it runs parallel to the river and is open so no big deal. One tough river crossing (third from the trailhead). Other crossings easy. All rivers flowing strong with no solid ice
Special Equipment: I bare-booted up to Cabot with little difficulty, micro-spikes from Cabot to Unknown Pond was perfect choice for me. Could not have gotten across one of the river crossings on Unkown Pond trail without supporting my weight on trekking poles while sidestepping on a thin log.
Comment: A good hike, I almost turned back after bagging Cabot because of the cold, but am really glad I did not. The Horn is right up there with my favorite peaks with views and maybe up a bit higher because it’s a bit difficult to get on top of the summit boulder. Ony saw 2 hikers all day Mike (a grid hiker) and his young golden retriever “Pemi” .
Date: 12-07-12 (Thursday) – I know this is a bit dated.
Tail Condition: Bunnel Notch: dusting of snow, very wet, actual river crossings easy (hops or easy step-overs), but much of the lower trail itself was like a stream – hard to keep boots dry. Trail easy to follow even in the dark with orange ribbons on branches. Higher up; spots of ice, and a few ice flows hidden by dusting of snow on this day. A few easy step-over blow-downs. Kilkenny Ridge north of Cabot: a bit more snow than south of Cabot, just enough of crunchy snow to make micro-spikes useful. Many (a dozen or so) blow-downs, most easy step-overs or duck unders, but a few difficult walk-arounds. Several low spots with unsafe ice that had to be short bushwacked around. Unkown Pond Trail - don’t need traction -some marshy areas and a lot of bog areas hidden by leaves and light snow. I found parts of the near level trail hard to follow but in the difficult part it runs parallel to the river and is open so no big deal. One tough river crossing (third from the trailhead). Other crossings easy. All rivers flowing strong with no solid ice
Special Equipment: I bare-booted up to Cabot with little difficulty, micro-spikes from Cabot to Unknown Pond was perfect choice for me. Could not have gotten across one of the river crossings on Unkown Pond trail without supporting my weight on trekking poles while sidestepping on a thin log.
Comment: A good hike, I almost turned back after bagging Cabot because of the cold, but am really glad I did not. The Horn is right up there with my favorite peaks with views and maybe up a bit higher because it’s a bit difficult to get on top of the summit boulder. Ony saw 2 hikers all day Mike (a grid hiker) and his young golden retriever “Pemi” .
