Great Pumpkin
Member
Dates of Trip: February 22 and 23, 2014
Cast and Crew: Spaderman (Steve); Mad Dog (Mark); The Mighty Quinn (Mike) and your humble correspondent.
Description:After a fairly successful weekend in the Greater Strangely Maine area last year nabbed Avery, West Bigelow and Saddleback (or so we thought) for us, we put together a return excursion which ultimately boiled down to the Frozen Four listed above. Steve was kind enough to drive us and our stuff over hill and dale to Rangeley, where we checked in at Niboban Cabins, a terrific place that we were steered to when the Rangeley Saddleback Inn was filled up. Very nice, modern, clean and comfortable cabins, with everything except TV, but who needs that? Check them out; ask for Wes. Good dinner and beverages at the nearby Loon Lodge.
On Saturday, our plan was to try for the Crockers, and maybe Reddington, starting from the Sugarloaf Golf Course, utilizing their bridge over the Carrabassett River, up to Hole 11 of the GC, and thence bushwhacking almost due west to intersect the Caribou Valley Road (CVR), about a mile away. This plan would save us almost 3 miles of road walking on CVR each way. However, it took us well over an hour to get to CVR, so any distance savings were diminished by the time and effort of the whack. C'est le guerre... In any event, we proceeded down CVR with Sugarloaf in the distance, clear to the summit, and the Crockers on the other side of the road. Quite a few friendly snowmobilers on CVR in both directions.
About 1.5 miles down the CVR, the eagle eyed Mike spotted the AT intersection (no sign that we could see, but there were some mountaineering ski tracks evident, and white blazes, so it had to be the AT). Took a break for layer adjustments, etc., then commenced the initial moderate climb. Ski tracks fizzled out about 1/4 mile up in a nice stand of birch, and while there was some kind of monorail beneath us, it was buried in a lot of new fluff, so the going was arduous, with most of the heavy lifting being done by my comrades.
At about 2800', we came to a small stream crossing, and had still not hit the Crocker Tentsite, although I suspect that we were fairly close to same. At this point, it was just after 12 p.m., and the handwriting was on the wall, so to speak - no summits today. The steepest part of the trail was still ahead, and we would not have reached Crocker for at least another 2 hours or more. Time to turn around, and no dishonor in a good decision. We found a sunny spot, out of the occasional wind, and ate a quick lunch before turning back. Trip back was uneventful, with a few more snowmobilers, and skies that were clouding up, with more wind. The return time on our hard fought bushwhack was only about 20 minutes, so yippee. Drove back to Rangeley, picked up more breakfast supplies at the IGA, and had good beef and brews at Sarge's Sports Bar in beautiful downtown Rangeley. A few more beverages, and thousands of stars overhead in the clear night sky back at Niboban.
On Sunday, we went to Saddleback Ski Area, where the service desk people are very nice, and got free uphill pass tickets (required), and began our climb in somewhat warmer temps than yesterday at about 8:30 a.m. Used Green Weaver trail up to the warming hut at the top of the double chair, making good time, and reaching same in about an hour. Reported our position to the home front, took a break, then layered up a bit for the climb up Tri-Color to the top of the quad chair lift. Went up the "chute" above the Ski Patrol station, and angled toward the intersection of the AT, marked by a weather beaten sign post (sans sign). We had mistakenly believed this to be the summit last year. Went north on the AT to the true summit of Saddleback (which definitely has a sign) with handshakes all around, and outstanding views in all directions.
There was some wind, but it was tolerable, and there was plenty of blue sky and sunshine, so we lit out for the Horn 1.7 miles away. There is a bit of a knob before you drop down off the ridge, and we were caught by a gentleman in orange jacket (sorry, didn't get the name) who kindly took our picture. We had to scramble a bit to get off that knob, and it was not clear to us where the trail proper was located. The next hour was spent in some scrubeenie and the more open col area between the peaks, with wind that seemed to come and go. Ate some lunch at about 12 p.m. in a sunny spot, with low wind, then pushed on, with more trail finding head-scratching. Also the occasional man-eating spruce trap. The orange fellow pressed on ahead of us, and we mostly followed his route, but varied it from time to time, seeking the path of least resistance. We met him again on his return from the summit, and thanked him for his efforts ahead of us.
We hit the top of the Horn at about 1 p.m., so it had taken us about 3 hours to get from the warming hut to the top of the Horn. Some slow going, and not just an easy ridge run. More pictures, handshakes, and then turn around time. The scramble back to the top of that knob of Saddleback was tough, but not as scary as I had thought it would be. Many thanks to Mad Dog for an occasional pull up and over a tough spot. Met a skier just beyond that knob (real good skiers can ski the "snowfields" up above the lifts), and he was the only other person we met this day on the ridge. We returned to the ski trails, and simply reversed our route down to the base lodge, staying to right side of skiers and boarders, with no problems whatsoever. There was still some corduroy snow on the sides of the trails....Back to base lodge just before 4 p.m., with a round of brews in the Swig and Smelt Pub. A long drive back to New Hampster followed.....thanks again Steve.
These were number 56 and 57 New England Winter 4ks for Steve and I, while Mark and Mike added to their totals as well. More importantly, I am asking them to add their pictures to this trip report which will tell the story better than I can. My thanks to them for being part of this third winter expedition to the Pine Tree State. Still chasing the New England 67, and we are almost down to single digits.
Cast and Crew: Spaderman (Steve); Mad Dog (Mark); The Mighty Quinn (Mike) and your humble correspondent.
Description:After a fairly successful weekend in the Greater Strangely Maine area last year nabbed Avery, West Bigelow and Saddleback (or so we thought) for us, we put together a return excursion which ultimately boiled down to the Frozen Four listed above. Steve was kind enough to drive us and our stuff over hill and dale to Rangeley, where we checked in at Niboban Cabins, a terrific place that we were steered to when the Rangeley Saddleback Inn was filled up. Very nice, modern, clean and comfortable cabins, with everything except TV, but who needs that? Check them out; ask for Wes. Good dinner and beverages at the nearby Loon Lodge.
On Saturday, our plan was to try for the Crockers, and maybe Reddington, starting from the Sugarloaf Golf Course, utilizing their bridge over the Carrabassett River, up to Hole 11 of the GC, and thence bushwhacking almost due west to intersect the Caribou Valley Road (CVR), about a mile away. This plan would save us almost 3 miles of road walking on CVR each way. However, it took us well over an hour to get to CVR, so any distance savings were diminished by the time and effort of the whack. C'est le guerre... In any event, we proceeded down CVR with Sugarloaf in the distance, clear to the summit, and the Crockers on the other side of the road. Quite a few friendly snowmobilers on CVR in both directions.
About 1.5 miles down the CVR, the eagle eyed Mike spotted the AT intersection (no sign that we could see, but there were some mountaineering ski tracks evident, and white blazes, so it had to be the AT). Took a break for layer adjustments, etc., then commenced the initial moderate climb. Ski tracks fizzled out about 1/4 mile up in a nice stand of birch, and while there was some kind of monorail beneath us, it was buried in a lot of new fluff, so the going was arduous, with most of the heavy lifting being done by my comrades.
At about 2800', we came to a small stream crossing, and had still not hit the Crocker Tentsite, although I suspect that we were fairly close to same. At this point, it was just after 12 p.m., and the handwriting was on the wall, so to speak - no summits today. The steepest part of the trail was still ahead, and we would not have reached Crocker for at least another 2 hours or more. Time to turn around, and no dishonor in a good decision. We found a sunny spot, out of the occasional wind, and ate a quick lunch before turning back. Trip back was uneventful, with a few more snowmobilers, and skies that were clouding up, with more wind. The return time on our hard fought bushwhack was only about 20 minutes, so yippee. Drove back to Rangeley, picked up more breakfast supplies at the IGA, and had good beef and brews at Sarge's Sports Bar in beautiful downtown Rangeley. A few more beverages, and thousands of stars overhead in the clear night sky back at Niboban.
On Sunday, we went to Saddleback Ski Area, where the service desk people are very nice, and got free uphill pass tickets (required), and began our climb in somewhat warmer temps than yesterday at about 8:30 a.m. Used Green Weaver trail up to the warming hut at the top of the double chair, making good time, and reaching same in about an hour. Reported our position to the home front, took a break, then layered up a bit for the climb up Tri-Color to the top of the quad chair lift. Went up the "chute" above the Ski Patrol station, and angled toward the intersection of the AT, marked by a weather beaten sign post (sans sign). We had mistakenly believed this to be the summit last year. Went north on the AT to the true summit of Saddleback (which definitely has a sign) with handshakes all around, and outstanding views in all directions.
There was some wind, but it was tolerable, and there was plenty of blue sky and sunshine, so we lit out for the Horn 1.7 miles away. There is a bit of a knob before you drop down off the ridge, and we were caught by a gentleman in orange jacket (sorry, didn't get the name) who kindly took our picture. We had to scramble a bit to get off that knob, and it was not clear to us where the trail proper was located. The next hour was spent in some scrubeenie and the more open col area between the peaks, with wind that seemed to come and go. Ate some lunch at about 12 p.m. in a sunny spot, with low wind, then pushed on, with more trail finding head-scratching. Also the occasional man-eating spruce trap. The orange fellow pressed on ahead of us, and we mostly followed his route, but varied it from time to time, seeking the path of least resistance. We met him again on his return from the summit, and thanked him for his efforts ahead of us.
We hit the top of the Horn at about 1 p.m., so it had taken us about 3 hours to get from the warming hut to the top of the Horn. Some slow going, and not just an easy ridge run. More pictures, handshakes, and then turn around time. The scramble back to the top of that knob of Saddleback was tough, but not as scary as I had thought it would be. Many thanks to Mad Dog for an occasional pull up and over a tough spot. Met a skier just beyond that knob (real good skiers can ski the "snowfields" up above the lifts), and he was the only other person we met this day on the ridge. We returned to the ski trails, and simply reversed our route down to the base lodge, staying to right side of skiers and boarders, with no problems whatsoever. There was still some corduroy snow on the sides of the trails....Back to base lodge just before 4 p.m., with a round of brews in the Swig and Smelt Pub. A long drive back to New Hampster followed.....thanks again Steve.
These were number 56 and 57 New England Winter 4ks for Steve and I, while Mark and Mike added to their totals as well. More importantly, I am asking them to add their pictures to this trip report which will tell the story better than I can. My thanks to them for being part of this third winter expedition to the Pine Tree State. Still chasing the New England 67, and we are almost down to single digits.
