Redington and Abraham (Maine) Access?

[bikehikeskifish]

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posted for a non-member
(has been offered membership)
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My wife and I are about to finish the 4000 footers in New England - need Redington and Abraham in Maine (got washed out on our attempt last year by hurricane Irene). I know that several bridges on the road and trail to Mt Abraham via the fire warden route were washed out and that Carribou Pond Road was in very bad shape right after Irene. We are planning a trip to finish in the middle of August and were wondering about the conditions of the roads and access to these two peaks. Do you have any information on them or could you please post a question for us (we are too far away to attend a hike to get sponsorship) about this? Any current information would be helpful (I realize that current can change but any more recent information would be helpful). Thanks and I enjoy lurking in the "Views from the Top" site.

AKW

 

[vegematic]

I don't know, but I await the answer as I also plan to visit those two later this summer. Will your friend be backpacking or making two separate day hikes of it?

 

[Red Oak]

You can def. hit abe from sugarloaf via the a.t. or the cvr via the spaulding shelter bushwack or the "zimmer" route which is a loop around to avoid the bushwack by old skidder roads......I should have info on the rapid stream scene soon,,,I believe Crazy sage was there a couple of months back. I was there in march[too much snow].
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?44265-abraham-3-12-12 the last report I have seen on abe.......

 

[kerry13]

I plan on doing the Maine 4s next month and would appreciate being kept in the loop on these roads conditions also. Thanks in advance

 

[bryan]

red oak linked to my post from march, but i can add a bit about potential parking, etc. for abraham from kingfield. you should be able to drive rapid stream road to the 3 way split, at which point you take the left branch and shortly after reach the first washed out bridge. there is a sign reading "appalachian trail" that is hard to miss. the road to that point had irene damage in spots, but had been repaired well enough for me to access it with a small passenger car. there is a pull off before the bridge that could work as a parking area and i believe some were using it before the bridges were washed out as they were in questionable shape anyway. from there you have to cross both streams on foot. the first is relatively small, but rapid stream proper could be wet in times of high water. take the first right after the second crossing, there were multiple signs stating "trail" and "appalachian trail", then walk until the next 3 way junction (roughly .5 miles) where the trail leaves straight ahead. the extra walking is less than a mile and qoes quickly. the trail itself was in great shape (though feet of snow covered the footbed so i can't comment on mud, etc.), well marked and should be easy to follow. all prior driving directions such as those on bob and geris website and in various online and printed guides still apply up until the washed out bridges (assuming no major issues in the last couple of months). being that there are houses within roughly .5 of the bridge site i imagine the road is kept in a passable condition.

bryan

 

[brobichaud]

Mt. Abraham

I'm planning on hitting Abraham via the Fire Warden's Trail tomorrow (6/29), so I'll make sure to post a trip report, with relevant access information/trail conditions.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[Peppersass]

My posting for Redington 7/5 discusses the new and improved Caribou Valley Road. Mile 3.9 no problem, but you wont drive any farther (barriers).

Also pix and directions at my blog - http://summithikinginnewengland.blogspot.com/2012/07/59-mt-redington-maine-july-4-2012.html?spref=fb

I want to do a Spaulding/Abe traverse on Barnjum Road (another iffy logging road). Anyone know anything about it? Pepp