Tumbledown Mountain, ME, and Coos Canyon, 6/11

[blaze]

The plan was to hike in the Presidentials yesterday. But as with all too many of my planned Presidentials hiking days over the past few months, the weather forecast deteriorated through the week, and by Saturday AM, it sounded like I had a better chance of staying dry by staying in Maine, and by not staying out too late in the day.

So I headed up Tumbledown for the first time in way too long. Ascent via Brook Trail; descent via Parker Ridge and the connector back to the Brook Trail. Also did the loop around Tumbledown Pond. I stopped at Coos Canyon in Byron for some waterfall shots on the way home. The rain had just started as I got back in the car to head home.


At the pond

Birch glade

Garter snake. Soon to shed its skin, I thought.

Panoramic

Rock abstract

Can never resist a mushroom shot

Coos Canyon

Coos Canyon

Nice running into John M, his friend Paula and her dog, and fellow photographer Eric C on the trail today.


Photo Gallery

 

[marty]

Jonathan,

Great TR and pix. It is fun to take the paths around the pond, although you have to be watchful and not head up N. Tumbledown or Little Jackson by mistake.

I am definitely getting out there again this summer. It is one of my favorite places in the Northeast.

Marty

 

[buckyball1]

B--nice pics--Tumbledown is always a good place to be though i'd rather have some weather to inhabit your beach ( right at Pine St ) down there for a few days

j

 

[skiguy]

Have not been here in a long time; but this Trip Report inspires me to do so. Love your eye for the Near and Far!

 

[blaze]

Jonathan,

Great TR and pix. It is fun to take the paths around the pond, although you have to be watchful and not head up N. Tumbledown or Little Jackson by mistake.

I am definitely getting out there again this summer. It is one of my favorite places in the Northeast.

Marty

I actually did go over N. Tumbledown. After taking the Brook trail up to the pond, I proceeded west over the summit, down into the col between the summit and west peak, then turned right onto a trail that took me over to the north peak, then back east toward the pond. Not as well marked as the Brook and Parker Ridge trails (both of which have recent, blue blazes), but easy enough to follow.

Thanks to all for the kind comments!

Jonathan

 

[Steve-o]

Nice shots !
Gotta get back there myself.

 

[chinooktrail]

amazing photos.

I haven't been up Tumbledown since I was 16.

certainly time for another visit.

 

[Jazzbo]

Coos Canyon Geology Link

I was impressed with the texture of the rocks in your pics of Coos Canyon so I did a search on Google to find out where it is etc etc. I learned I've driven by it number of times on trips to Rangely Area on Rt 17. Although it looked interesting, I was always in a hurry and simply passed it by.

I found one interesting informative link by Maine Geo Survey with some quick commentary and pics of some of the rocks exposed there. Readers may find it informative and not overly technical.

http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/bedrock/sites/jan08.htm

 

[blaze]

I found one interesting informative link by Maine Geo Survey with some quick commentary and pics of some of the rocks exposed there. Readers may find it informative and not overly technical.

http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/bedrock/sites/jan08.htm

Thanks for posting that - interesting reading. I did see some prospectors there on Saturday. The Canyon is a nice apres-hike swimming hole in the summer.

 

[marty]

Thanks for posting that - interesting reading. I did see some prospectors there on Saturday. The Canyon is a nice apres-hike swimming hole in the summer.

Yes, the Swift River and tributaries are very popular for gold panning. Most do it the old fashioned way, while a few set up fancy sifting machines.

Ray, thanks for the link. Nice to learn something new about the area, since I go past there every time I visit camp.

Marty

 

[Jimmy Legs and Little D]

Terrific slideshow and report! We almost hiked Tumbledown several years ago but the day was a total washout. Need to get back there one day.
Tumbledown Pond was featured in the "Where In Maine?" section of May's edition of DownEast Magazine.

Donna