michael
New member
Relying on a previous trip's beta, it was assumed that the Morton Cut-off/Tim Pond Road was blocked as it headed East-bound - it was not plowed heading east where Morton Cut meets Tim Pond rd...we just assumed that was still true when we headed up Kennebago rd that morning, though I may have uttered something to the effect of "wonder if morton rd is open..." but being driven and doing the driving are sometimes to entirely separate states of mind... I did not put up a defense in favor of this move and so we went with plan A.
Much to our chagrin, we realized that Tim Pond Rd was indeed ploughed up to and including Wiggle brook rd to the Sol Ridge Rd...would have saved us 7 miles on the round trip....
So, this trip we knew was going to be long and committing and we hoped to get some help traveling via skis.
But oddly enough the snow seemed too dry, like styrafoam, no moisture and so no glide to be had. we bare booted a good chunk of the Bear Brook Rd as a result and eventually switched to snowshoes for the last 3 miles.
We also had hoped that maybe a sled or two had made the circuit to the White cap/nkd saddle but we soon discovered that no one had been to the saddle, not recently anyway and so we broke trail to the summits of White cap and then nkd.
Summiting White Cap at 3:20pm we were a tad tired but determined and pushed on to NKD in the advancing cold and darkness. Last time on NKD a few years ago we seemed to pick a much better path perhaps it was more to the east side of the saddle...this time we perhaps dipped a little to the west. There were deep snow drifts in parts and some thick spruce. we spelled each other breaking out the trail and at almost exactly 6pm Andy finally discovered the cannister under a thick blanket of snow and ice. The summit area was nothing like I recalled, certainly last time it was a lot more like mid-day versus mid-night. we snapped a pic or two, delivered a high-five and when one of our party called home to relay to his significant other that we were now only 6 hours from the car, we knew that the mental struggles were to begin. 6 hours...doing some quick math in my head I quickly ascertained that we would not make the beer store in time...my heart sank. oh sure, i had a couple beers in my pack, but life had seemingly become somewhat serious and the urge to splurge escaped me...so much for tradition. btw and IMHO The Bear brook Rd could use a few degrees of incline and maybe then it could become useful...
I dunno, it was a long trip, some 23 miles and change all said and done, it could have been an easy trip of 16 miles without the Grants village start. we wanted a good ski but that did not pan out...what do you do, turn around or because you know you have all the gear and the food and the water you need for a good day or even a day and night, you push ahead all too aware of the commitment you are making with each step of the hike.
This is also one of those outtings that the non-hiker looks at you and just shakes their head...and I think I know why...
Much to our chagrin, we realized that Tim Pond Rd was indeed ploughed up to and including Wiggle brook rd to the Sol Ridge Rd...would have saved us 7 miles on the round trip....
So, this trip we knew was going to be long and committing and we hoped to get some help traveling via skis.
But oddly enough the snow seemed too dry, like styrafoam, no moisture and so no glide to be had. we bare booted a good chunk of the Bear Brook Rd as a result and eventually switched to snowshoes for the last 3 miles.
We also had hoped that maybe a sled or two had made the circuit to the White cap/nkd saddle but we soon discovered that no one had been to the saddle, not recently anyway and so we broke trail to the summits of White cap and then nkd.
Summiting White Cap at 3:20pm we were a tad tired but determined and pushed on to NKD in the advancing cold and darkness. Last time on NKD a few years ago we seemed to pick a much better path perhaps it was more to the east side of the saddle...this time we perhaps dipped a little to the west. There were deep snow drifts in parts and some thick spruce. we spelled each other breaking out the trail and at almost exactly 6pm Andy finally discovered the cannister under a thick blanket of snow and ice. The summit area was nothing like I recalled, certainly last time it was a lot more like mid-day versus mid-night. we snapped a pic or two, delivered a high-five and when one of our party called home to relay to his significant other that we were now only 6 hours from the car, we knew that the mental struggles were to begin. 6 hours...doing some quick math in my head I quickly ascertained that we would not make the beer store in time...my heart sank. oh sure, i had a couple beers in my pack, but life had seemingly become somewhat serious and the urge to splurge escaped me...so much for tradition. btw and IMHO The Bear brook Rd could use a few degrees of incline and maybe then it could become useful...
I dunno, it was a long trip, some 23 miles and change all said and done, it could have been an easy trip of 16 miles without the Grants village start. we wanted a good ski but that did not pan out...what do you do, turn around or because you know you have all the gear and the food and the water you need for a good day or even a day and night, you push ahead all too aware of the commitment you are making with each step of the hike.
This is also one of those outtings that the non-hiker looks at you and just shakes their head...and I think I know why...
