Rangeley Maine Peaks

[bignslow]

Rangeley Maine Peaks?

I'm planning on getting all of the peaks in the Rangeley area this upcoming weekend (June 29 - July 3). I am car camping at the Rangeley Lake state park and am planning on dayhiking the peaks in the following trips:

* S. Crocker, N. Crocker, Reddington from the CVR
* Sugarloaf, Spaulding as an out & back from the sugarloaf ski area
* Bigelow (Avery & West) from the fire wardens trail
* Saddleback & The Horn from the ski area
* Abraham from the fire wardens trail

Unfortunately we have 5 days for 5 trips and the weather may or may not cooperate.

What i'm wondering is which of those hikes you would save for a nice day, conversely, which of those hikes would you not do on a rainy or stormy day.

I have been a long time reader of the site and i've read a lot of peoples trip reports, but any additional information would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[buckyball1]

YMMV, but for me
1) Abraham for a nice day and avoid on bad day for sure
2) same for Saddleback and the Horn up the slopes-ridge can get pretty nasty in bad weather
3) West/Avery--clear is nice, but...not as much exposed time when you pop up for these two
4) Sugarloaf/Spaulding-clear would be nice, but...(Spaulding doesn't matter)
5) Crockers/Red--i don't think it matters too much and this should be your "bad day" hike

enjoy
jim

 

[Raymond]

I agree with buckyball.

We climbed Spaulding in a thick fog, but it was clear by the time we got up Sugarloaf. Then it rained on us as we descended to Caribou Valley Road.

The most spectacular views are from Bigelow. I recommend hitting North and South Horn as well. South Horn is on the Hundred-Highest list, so you may as well bag it while you’re close. You can do a nice loop by following the Appalachian Trail up to Horns Pond and the ridge, climbing North Horn on its spur trail (only a few minutes’ time), then returning to the ridge to hit South Horn, West Peak, and Avery, then descending the Firewarden’s Trail.

You definitely wouldn’t want to climb Saddleback and The Horn on a rainy day, as you’re on open ridge for a couple miles up there each way. I don’t know if you really want to do them from the ski area, either, as ski trails are usually pretty steep and you’ll probably be broiling under the sun the entire way, not just when you’re up on the ridge. Not to mention wading through the slopes’ flora. We’ve done the Appalachian Trail from Route 4 twice, and it’s not that long a trip. Eleven hours 15 minutes round trip, going all the way to The Horn.

 

[amstony]

I'd save the Bigelow range for the best day. And add in North and South Horn, don't pass it up, only adds a few hours, depending on pace, great views from there and the Horns Pond Trail is beautiful. Plus S. Horn (?), its on the NEHH list. That hike is one of the best in the Northeast.

I'd follow that with Abraham. Great views from the summit, done that one twice.

Good luck and enjoy, wish I could do 5 days up there in a row!

 

[Doc McPeak]

I did this area last year in the same time span.

As others have mentioned, Saddleback and the Horn, and the Bigelows are a must for good weather. The views are fabulous and impress every second of the way. Horns Pond is also beautiful and wraps up the loop nicely.

I did a great loop of Sugarloaf/Spaulding/Abe from the CVR with a very easy bushwhack down to Caribou Pond from the Abe Spur/AT junction. I highly recommend this route to make the loop quite manageable and varied. It saved me several hours and many feet of climbing. Actually here's my report of it.

http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14067&highlight=Abraham

This is a wonderful area! You will enjoy it.

 

[weatherman]

You're likely to luck out with weather, with a good chance that all 5 days will be nice. I'm jealous. I agree with what's been said already re weather.

Though the Firewarden's trail up Abe is really nice, as Doc mentioned the Sugarloaf/Spaulding/Abe loop is highly doable in a day, especially if you decide to take an off day in there somewhere. You could drive in to the AT crossing with most types of vehicle, and go from there, reducing your mileage and vertical a bit and giving you a taste of what to expect for the drive in to the Crockers and Redington. I've "car camped" by driving to the AT crossing and bringing stuff down to a reasonably hardened campsite by the Carrabassett, making a 2-day, 6-peak section feasible. LNT, obviously.

One thing to consider is which day to do which hike in terms of how fresh your legs are. Bigelows are probably the toughest, unless you decide to do the 3-bagger off CVR, in which case Sugarloaf/Spaulding/Abe may be the hardest.

Enjoy.
Weatherman

 

[bignslow]

Thanks for all the help everyone.

Right now it looks like the weather is good for Friday and questionable for Saturday and Sunday, hopefully the forecast will improve...

 

[David Metsky]

Keep in mind that after some rain the CVR may be more difficult to drive to the AT crossing, same with the road to Abraham Firewarden's trail.

 

[Tim Horn]

David makes a very good point. If you do not have a high clearance vehicle I would suggest not crossing the difficult bridge about a quarter mile before the AT intersection. How do you know which bridge? The first time you decide to get out to and see if in fact you can clear the edge of the bridge, you are there. Remember that when the back end of your vehicle drops off the bridge it can hang up and leave you suspended on the bridge with your back wheels spinning. Also if you travel this road higher up towards the pond it would be advisable to carry a saw and a come along just in case you drop off the metal framed "bridge" or if a tree falls across CVR while you are up country.
As far as hiking, it is not very much more difficult to add Abraham to the day that you do Loaf and Spaulding. The key is to return via the cutoff to CVR from the Abraham trail ala Doc McPeak's instructions or via the old trail below the spaulding shelter. I think the whack from the shelter is much easier and straightforward as far as route finding than the route from Abraham trail. It is a long day but you have a lot of light to work with this time of year and Abraham is much easier from the AT. In any case have fun and stay off Abe and Saddleback during the rain.