T
Tramper Al
Guest
A little Flagstaff - Monson info
1) East Flagstaff Rd - Rt. 201 Caratunk. You will want to start this section (and end the Bigelows section) at East Flagstaff Rd (parking for 3 cars, with overflow nearby), because Long Falls Dam has no decent parking. Note also that the "2000 Mile" marker on Long Falls Dam Rd has been largely covered by the newly painted double yellow line. If you can manage it, you'd really like to reach Pierce Pond Lean-to on your first night, as that sets you up for breakfast at Harrison's in the morning (which we missed by a week). In any event, your Kennebec canoe ferry is morning only (9-11) until early July, so that kind of sets your schedule anyway. There's a big parking lot just uphill from the Rt. 201 crossing.
2) Caratunk - Monson. I think that's about 37 miles, considering the Monson end as the Rt. 15 (ample parking) crossing (this is where Spectacle Pond is and where the KAS floatplane lands). You may already have your midpoint takeout planned, though I think the Shirley-Blanchard Rd is much closer to the Monson end. Isn't that the road right after the "East Branch" ford? The fords in general aren't too difficult, and we did them at a bad time, after/during a several day rain. All the shelters in that section are exceptionally nice, I'd say. Pleasant Pond Lean-to is in a very pleasant spot, right on the pond, as it turns out. You'll see and hear loons there. Bald Mt Lean-to is right along a roaring brook (forded just before shelter spur), fantastic, we stayed there. It actually has dueling privies, one on each side of the ford, if this is of concern or interest to any in your party. Finally, Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to is in a very nice and remote spot, uphill and off trail a bit, with the roaring river below.
I hope this helps a bit. I would love to hike Flagstaff - Monson again sometime, but the next untravelled (AT, LT, SRKG, MST, NFCT) section is calling me now.
Maybe a rock they call "the greatest mountain"?poison ivy said:Thanks for the kind words, Tramper Al (but I think the only way I could catch you is if you were sitting on a rock someplace for a really, really long time!)
Allowing time for some fancy shuttling, I would think that Flagstaff to Monson in 3 weekends would be very feasible and nice for you. With thanks to some of the fine White Blaze photographers, I'll offer a little advice, since I'm such an expert now!poison ivy said:
1) East Flagstaff Rd - Rt. 201 Caratunk. You will want to start this section (and end the Bigelows section) at East Flagstaff Rd (parking for 3 cars, with overflow nearby), because Long Falls Dam has no decent parking. Note also that the "2000 Mile" marker on Long Falls Dam Rd has been largely covered by the newly painted double yellow line. If you can manage it, you'd really like to reach Pierce Pond Lean-to on your first night, as that sets you up for breakfast at Harrison's in the morning (which we missed by a week). In any event, your Kennebec canoe ferry is morning only (9-11) until early July, so that kind of sets your schedule anyway. There's a big parking lot just uphill from the Rt. 201 crossing.
2) Caratunk - Monson. I think that's about 37 miles, considering the Monson end as the Rt. 15 (ample parking) crossing (this is where Spectacle Pond is and where the KAS floatplane lands). You may already have your midpoint takeout planned, though I think the Shirley-Blanchard Rd is much closer to the Monson end. Isn't that the road right after the "East Branch" ford? The fords in general aren't too difficult, and we did them at a bad time, after/during a several day rain. All the shelters in that section are exceptionally nice, I'd say. Pleasant Pond Lean-to is in a very pleasant spot, right on the pond, as it turns out. You'll see and hear loons there. Bald Mt Lean-to is right along a roaring brook (forded just before shelter spur), fantastic, we stayed there. It actually has dueling privies, one on each side of the ford, if this is of concern or interest to any in your party. Finally, Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to is in a very nice and remote spot, uphill and off trail a bit, with the roaring river below.
I hope this helps a bit. I would love to hike Flagstaff - Monson again sometime, but the next untravelled (AT, LT, SRKG, MST, NFCT) section is calling me now.
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