BIGEarl
Well-known member
March 9, 2012: Cabot
Trails: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Summits: Cabot
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
Here we go. It’s a new month and we have a new list. This was our start to March hiking; the first weekend had a conflict that kept us off the trails. We arrived to the area of Berlin Fish Hatchery finding the road covered in a layer of ~4 – 6 inches of fresh snow. Most of the roadway past the hatchery entrance was not tracked and we enjoyed “breaking” trail to the trailhead, and then from the trailhead to the summit. The forecast predicted high westerly winds and snow showers; the sheltered nature of Cabot and the Bunnell Notch Trail approach from the east should make it an ideal target for the day.
The trailhead conditions were warm, sunny, and a light breeze. We grabbed our things and set off. The trail seemed solid and we started bare booting the hike. Within fifty yards we knew the trail wasn’t as solid as we first thought and the snowshoes came out. We made our way along the logging road past the York Pond – Bunnell Notch trails junction and to the turn that starts the climb. The final couple hundred yards had bent-over trees from the snow load blocking the way. This slowed our progress as we removed the snow allowing the trees to lift over the trail. We made the turn and the trail blockage got worse, much worse. We were clearing snow for most of the distance to the height of land and the junction with Kilkenny Ridge Trail.
From the Kilkenny Ridge Trail junction conditions seemed to improve, for a while. The strong westerly wind had left some sections of trail with a lower amount of powder and the trees were all generally clear. We were soon at the junction with the abandoned Mt. Cabot Trail, made the turn, and started the upper climb. To this point we enjoyed beautiful clear sky and very pleasant conditions, but the wind was up ever since the Kilkenny Ridge Trail junction. Now we had clouds that had moved in, the sun was gone, and soon the snow started to fall. By the time we reached Bunnell Rock the views were gone, obscured by the clouds and blowing snow. We kept climbing.
Above Bunnell Rock we started into the drifting. Some of the drifts were pretty deep. The snow was generally the dry and fluffy variety and we had no trouble working through the drifts. As usual, the drifting hid the trail in the area of Cabot Cabin and the section leading to the summit. We passed the cabin and made it roughly half-way to the summit before losing the trail corridor. In the process of finding the actual trail corridor we managed to leave some confusing tracks but I’m sure the wind probably took care of them with a little drifting; they fill-in quickly.
Soon, we hit the summit, got our usual summit pictures, and u-turned for our exit hike. A short distance from Cabot Cabin we met a solo hiker named Steve from New Jersey. We stopped for a brief visit and continued our hikes. He was roughly ten minutes behind us and on the same hike plan.
The hike back out went quickly with no surprises at all. After we dropped below the height of land on Bunnell Notch Trail the westerly wind generally stopped; it was blocked by the ridge. As we approached the trailhead I looked back to see Steve was ~100 yards behind us. When Steve was ready to leave he needed a little help with the icy surface. Sue and I helped with a push to get him onto the road surface; from there he was all set for the drive out. When we left, I just hit the “4Hi” button and we drove away.
I’ve posted some pictures from the day.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
Trails: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Summits: Cabot
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
Here we go. It’s a new month and we have a new list. This was our start to March hiking; the first weekend had a conflict that kept us off the trails. We arrived to the area of Berlin Fish Hatchery finding the road covered in a layer of ~4 – 6 inches of fresh snow. Most of the roadway past the hatchery entrance was not tracked and we enjoyed “breaking” trail to the trailhead, and then from the trailhead to the summit. The forecast predicted high westerly winds and snow showers; the sheltered nature of Cabot and the Bunnell Notch Trail approach from the east should make it an ideal target for the day.
The trailhead conditions were warm, sunny, and a light breeze. We grabbed our things and set off. The trail seemed solid and we started bare booting the hike. Within fifty yards we knew the trail wasn’t as solid as we first thought and the snowshoes came out. We made our way along the logging road past the York Pond – Bunnell Notch trails junction and to the turn that starts the climb. The final couple hundred yards had bent-over trees from the snow load blocking the way. This slowed our progress as we removed the snow allowing the trees to lift over the trail. We made the turn and the trail blockage got worse, much worse. We were clearing snow for most of the distance to the height of land and the junction with Kilkenny Ridge Trail.
From the Kilkenny Ridge Trail junction conditions seemed to improve, for a while. The strong westerly wind had left some sections of trail with a lower amount of powder and the trees were all generally clear. We were soon at the junction with the abandoned Mt. Cabot Trail, made the turn, and started the upper climb. To this point we enjoyed beautiful clear sky and very pleasant conditions, but the wind was up ever since the Kilkenny Ridge Trail junction. Now we had clouds that had moved in, the sun was gone, and soon the snow started to fall. By the time we reached Bunnell Rock the views were gone, obscured by the clouds and blowing snow. We kept climbing.
Above Bunnell Rock we started into the drifting. Some of the drifts were pretty deep. The snow was generally the dry and fluffy variety and we had no trouble working through the drifts. As usual, the drifting hid the trail in the area of Cabot Cabin and the section leading to the summit. We passed the cabin and made it roughly half-way to the summit before losing the trail corridor. In the process of finding the actual trail corridor we managed to leave some confusing tracks but I’m sure the wind probably took care of them with a little drifting; they fill-in quickly.
Soon, we hit the summit, got our usual summit pictures, and u-turned for our exit hike. A short distance from Cabot Cabin we met a solo hiker named Steve from New Jersey. We stopped for a brief visit and continued our hikes. He was roughly ten minutes behind us and on the same hike plan.
The hike back out went quickly with no surprises at all. After we dropped below the height of land on Bunnell Notch Trail the westerly wind generally stopped; it was blocked by the ridge. As we approached the trailhead I looked back to see Steve was ~100 yards behind us. When Steve was ready to leave he needed a little help with the icy surface. Sue and I helped with a push to get him onto the road surface; from there he was all set for the drive out. When we left, I just hit the “4Hi” button and we drove away.
I’ve posted some pictures from the day.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
