BIGEarl
Well-known member
August 25, 2012: White Cap and Kennebago Divide – North Peak
Trails: Logging Road, Herd Paths, and Bushwhacks
Summits: White Cap Mountain, Kennebago Divide – North Peak
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
Directions:
Our route to this hike was based on an earlier hike by Bob & Geri. Our recorded distances are slightly different.
We approached the hike location from the NH – Maine state line on Route 16.
From the NH/ME state line on route 16…
Follow Rte. 16 for 22 miles to Morton Cutoff Logging Road/Cold Brook Road on the left. At this turn, be sure to set the odometer to zero.
From Rte 16, take the Morton Cutoff logging road.
AT 3.3 miles take a right onto Lincoln Pond Road (this becomes Tim Pond Road).
Follow this until 10.6 miles where you take a left onto an unnamed logging road.
At 13.6 miles take a right onto Wiggle Brook Road.
At 14.1 miles take a left onto an unnamed logging road (Bear Brook Road).
This location very close to the Wiggle Brook Bridge over Kennebago River.
Follow this road to the obvious end location at 2600 feet where there is an open area for parking.
Usually, when Sue and I sink our teeth into something we don’t let go until we’re finished with it. This time, common sense prevailed.
The plans for the day were to hike White Cap, Boundary Peak, and North Kennebago Divide – North Peak. We got an early start from Nashua for the five-hour drive to the end of Bear Brook Road in Eustis. At 2600 feet, the end of vehicle travel on the road is obvious and there is an area that can handle a number of parked vehicles. The road to this point did not have any problems that a vehicle with a normal amount of clearance couldn’t handle. We parked out of the way in case others came in, grabbed our things, and set off. We planned to hike White Cap, Boundary Peak, and Kennebago Divide, in that order. We had terrific hiking conditions to start (a little high on the humidity scale), but the forecast had the day becoming questionable in the afternoon with a prediction of thunderstorms.
First up – White Cap. Descriptions of the hike indicated all we needed to do was continue out the road corridor from the parking location; eventually, as the road approaches the col between White Cap and Kennebago Divide, the road would transition to a well worn herd path that leads directly to the canister on the summit. Anybody should be able to follow those directions. We headed up the road getting occasional pictures along the way and eventually the road changed to a herd path. The herd path was mostly open with only a few places that were a little tight. A short distance from the summit there is a place where a large cairn and small cairn are located at a split. The small cairn is on the left split, we went left and continued to the canister. Nothing to it! That’s one.
Now, the plan had us bushwhacking from White Cap directly to the US/Canada border at Boundary Monument 450, roughly a mile away. From there we planned to hike the boundary cut to Boundary Peak and then return via the reverse route. It’s a simple plan; what could possibly go wrong?
With the bearing set on the compass we set off. The growth on White Cap is dense! We had a tough time just starting to leave the summit. After a little pushing and pulling we were away from the summit and headed for the col between White Cap and Monument 450. We were able to take advantage of a couple herd paths as we made our way to the col. A number of times we found ourselves backing up and working one way or the other to get around areas of growth too thick to push through. We tried working our way to the south of our target line and couldn’t find any relief; it was the same on the north.
Once we were in the col we stopped to do a sanity check on our plans for the day. Hiking from the summit to our current location required ~50% more time than our plan allowed for the full bushwhack. We were unable to move through the area as fast as we had hoped. Once we reached Monument 450 we would have a ~5.5 mile round trip to Boundary Peak, and then a reverse bushwhack that would again take much longer than planned (probably). Waiting for us after all of this was a bushwhack to the summit of Kennebago Divide. It seemed very likely we wouldn’t be able to complete all three in the day’s plan. We decided it would be better to get White Cap and Kennebago Divide now and return for Boundary Peak on another trip. We bailed on Boundary Peak, made the u-turn, and re-climbed to the summit of White Cap.
We left White Cap for a second time headed to Kennebago Divide. In the vicinity of the col we found a herd path heading off in the general direction we needed and decided to take advantage of it. Soon, after we passed a number of less-worn herd paths split off in assorted directions, the original path seemed to just end. We back-tracked to the col and the main trail we followed from the truck. A short distance below the col was a cairn in the middle of the trail and a herd path entering from the direction of Kennebago Divide. We both noticed it on the initial climb and decided to go there and continue our hike to Kennebago Divide.
We started out the herd path and soon came to another cairn. A short distance further along the herd path turns and climbs. We were feeling pretty good about this being the path that would lead us to the canister. As all of this was going on the sky became overcast and there was no sun. It’s really easy to use the sun as a navigation aid and something I often do. With a solid herd path leading the way I think we both put navigation on the back burner for a while. The herd path split a number of times as we hiked along. In each case, we selected the direction that appeared to be most worn, or just “felt” like the right direction.
We continued along and found ourselves on a more open herd path. Feeling pretty good about our progress I checked my altimeter and it showed we had only another hundred feet or so to the summit. Then, it happened. I stopped dead in my tracks not believing what I was seeing. We were back on the herd path that led us to White Cap. We actually managed to do a half-mile circle and were on our way back to the White Cap canister. Every once in a while I do something that is just plain stupid; I guess this is an example of just plain stupid.
There was some grumbling but we soon got back into our hike plan and again headed for Kennebago Divide. This time we headed back out the initial herd path and as soon as it started off in a bad direction we went bushwhacking to the summit. We stayed on course and went through anything the mountain had to toss our way. Roughly a hundred feet below the summit we again landed on a herd path. This latest herd path was actually headed our way. Both Sue and I were ready for a break from the dense growth and were happy to jump on this herd path. It led us directly to the summit and canister.
The hike out went a little better – it almost had to go better. There were many herd paths along the way out and we always stayed with the one that seemed most used, or definitely headed down and toward the trail. We kept track of direction and elevation all of the way down. Eventually, we landed on the trail that led back to the truck. As we were approaching the trail junction we passed a cairn that we both remembered from our earlier attempt that ended back on White Cap. Suddenly we knew where we were. We continued a short distance and landed on the trail at the cairn mentioned earlier. We turned down hill and finished our loop of White Cap and Kennebago Divide - North Peak.
That was easy. We tossed our things into the back, grabbed a couple cold drinks from the cooler, and took off.. Tough day!
Pictures will follow.
Trails: Logging Road, Herd Paths, and Bushwhacks
Summits: White Cap Mountain, Kennebago Divide – North Peak
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
Directions:
Our route to this hike was based on an earlier hike by Bob & Geri. Our recorded distances are slightly different.
We approached the hike location from the NH – Maine state line on Route 16.
From the NH/ME state line on route 16…
Follow Rte. 16 for 22 miles to Morton Cutoff Logging Road/Cold Brook Road on the left. At this turn, be sure to set the odometer to zero.
From Rte 16, take the Morton Cutoff logging road.
AT 3.3 miles take a right onto Lincoln Pond Road (this becomes Tim Pond Road).
Follow this until 10.6 miles where you take a left onto an unnamed logging road.
At 13.6 miles take a right onto Wiggle Brook Road.
At 14.1 miles take a left onto an unnamed logging road (Bear Brook Road).
This location very close to the Wiggle Brook Bridge over Kennebago River.
Follow this road to the obvious end location at 2600 feet where there is an open area for parking.
Usually, when Sue and I sink our teeth into something we don’t let go until we’re finished with it. This time, common sense prevailed.
The plans for the day were to hike White Cap, Boundary Peak, and North Kennebago Divide – North Peak. We got an early start from Nashua for the five-hour drive to the end of Bear Brook Road in Eustis. At 2600 feet, the end of vehicle travel on the road is obvious and there is an area that can handle a number of parked vehicles. The road to this point did not have any problems that a vehicle with a normal amount of clearance couldn’t handle. We parked out of the way in case others came in, grabbed our things, and set off. We planned to hike White Cap, Boundary Peak, and Kennebago Divide, in that order. We had terrific hiking conditions to start (a little high on the humidity scale), but the forecast had the day becoming questionable in the afternoon with a prediction of thunderstorms.
First up – White Cap. Descriptions of the hike indicated all we needed to do was continue out the road corridor from the parking location; eventually, as the road approaches the col between White Cap and Kennebago Divide, the road would transition to a well worn herd path that leads directly to the canister on the summit. Anybody should be able to follow those directions. We headed up the road getting occasional pictures along the way and eventually the road changed to a herd path. The herd path was mostly open with only a few places that were a little tight. A short distance from the summit there is a place where a large cairn and small cairn are located at a split. The small cairn is on the left split, we went left and continued to the canister. Nothing to it! That’s one.
Now, the plan had us bushwhacking from White Cap directly to the US/Canada border at Boundary Monument 450, roughly a mile away. From there we planned to hike the boundary cut to Boundary Peak and then return via the reverse route. It’s a simple plan; what could possibly go wrong?
With the bearing set on the compass we set off. The growth on White Cap is dense! We had a tough time just starting to leave the summit. After a little pushing and pulling we were away from the summit and headed for the col between White Cap and Monument 450. We were able to take advantage of a couple herd paths as we made our way to the col. A number of times we found ourselves backing up and working one way or the other to get around areas of growth too thick to push through. We tried working our way to the south of our target line and couldn’t find any relief; it was the same on the north.
Once we were in the col we stopped to do a sanity check on our plans for the day. Hiking from the summit to our current location required ~50% more time than our plan allowed for the full bushwhack. We were unable to move through the area as fast as we had hoped. Once we reached Monument 450 we would have a ~5.5 mile round trip to Boundary Peak, and then a reverse bushwhack that would again take much longer than planned (probably). Waiting for us after all of this was a bushwhack to the summit of Kennebago Divide. It seemed very likely we wouldn’t be able to complete all three in the day’s plan. We decided it would be better to get White Cap and Kennebago Divide now and return for Boundary Peak on another trip. We bailed on Boundary Peak, made the u-turn, and re-climbed to the summit of White Cap.
We left White Cap for a second time headed to Kennebago Divide. In the vicinity of the col we found a herd path heading off in the general direction we needed and decided to take advantage of it. Soon, after we passed a number of less-worn herd paths split off in assorted directions, the original path seemed to just end. We back-tracked to the col and the main trail we followed from the truck. A short distance below the col was a cairn in the middle of the trail and a herd path entering from the direction of Kennebago Divide. We both noticed it on the initial climb and decided to go there and continue our hike to Kennebago Divide.
We started out the herd path and soon came to another cairn. A short distance further along the herd path turns and climbs. We were feeling pretty good about this being the path that would lead us to the canister. As all of this was going on the sky became overcast and there was no sun. It’s really easy to use the sun as a navigation aid and something I often do. With a solid herd path leading the way I think we both put navigation on the back burner for a while. The herd path split a number of times as we hiked along. In each case, we selected the direction that appeared to be most worn, or just “felt” like the right direction.
We continued along and found ourselves on a more open herd path. Feeling pretty good about our progress I checked my altimeter and it showed we had only another hundred feet or so to the summit. Then, it happened. I stopped dead in my tracks not believing what I was seeing. We were back on the herd path that led us to White Cap. We actually managed to do a half-mile circle and were on our way back to the White Cap canister. Every once in a while I do something that is just plain stupid; I guess this is an example of just plain stupid.
There was some grumbling but we soon got back into our hike plan and again headed for Kennebago Divide. This time we headed back out the initial herd path and as soon as it started off in a bad direction we went bushwhacking to the summit. We stayed on course and went through anything the mountain had to toss our way. Roughly a hundred feet below the summit we again landed on a herd path. This latest herd path was actually headed our way. Both Sue and I were ready for a break from the dense growth and were happy to jump on this herd path. It led us directly to the summit and canister.
The hike out went a little better – it almost had to go better. There were many herd paths along the way out and we always stayed with the one that seemed most used, or definitely headed down and toward the trail. We kept track of direction and elevation all of the way down. Eventually, we landed on the trail that led back to the truck. As we were approaching the trail junction we passed a cairn that we both remembered from our earlier attempt that ended back on White Cap. Suddenly we knew where we were. We continued a short distance and landed on the trail at the cairn mentioned earlier. We turned down hill and finished our loop of White Cap and Kennebago Divide - North Peak.
That was easy. We tossed our things into the back, grabbed a couple cold drinks from the cooler, and took off.. Tough day!
Pictures will follow.
