August 4, 2007
It's going to be a great weekend for hiking. The weather looks perfect for both today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday). Today's plan is to knock off a couple more peaks from the New England 100 highest list. I'll complete a large loop of nearly 20 miles.
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I parked at the trailhead for the Unknown Pond Trail. I may come back on that trail if I decide to shorten my day. I crossed the street and began to walk up the road. I saw two men working at the fish hatchery.
I had noticed I went through a gate to get to this trailhead. When I did, I saw a sign stating that the gate was only open from 8 am - 4 pm. I decided to ask the men.
"Is it true that the gate gets locked after 4 pm?" I asked.
"Sometimes," one of them replied.
That was an interesting answer. Was today 'sometimes'?
"Since your hiking, we'll leave the gate unlocked," the other man added.
"I probably won't finish until about 6 or 7 tonight. Is that all right?" I asked.
"That's fine"
"Great! Thanks!"
Now all I had to do was keep my fingers crossed that they didn't forget.
Maddie and I started today's hike on York Pond Trail.
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Across some type of small dam
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Across some bog bridging
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The first mile was easy, but the trail gradually got steeper. Up I went to the junction with Kilkenny Ridge. My first peak of the day will be Terrace Mountain.
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Up, up, and up some more. It was a very hot day, but I when I finally got to the top of the ridge, I had a nice breeze. Looks like I have to take a spur trail to the summit.
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Maddie and I reached the summit of the 3655' foot mountain. This mountain is on the New Hampshire 100 highest list. That list has too many bushwacks. I have no intention of completing it (at least yet). I'll check off this peak just the same. There is a little bit of a view from the summit, but not much. I was a little concerned about the clouds. Where's my nice sunny day that weather.com promised?
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Next Madison and I followed the ridge.
The trail was mostly rocky, but we had a few smooth sections.
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Up and over North Terrace which is not on any list that I know of, since there is very little elevation lose or gain along this section of the ridge.
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The trail then gets quite steep as it drops down.
These moss covered rocks were an added challenge to the descent.
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Next, I reached the junction with the Bunnell Notch Trail where I met 2 hikers.
Sean (on the left) is climbing the 4's. Cabot will make 37 out of the 48. Wes (on the right) has completed the 4's in the Whites as well as the winter 4's. He's also completed the New England 100 highest. We chatted a few minutes before I headed off.
A few minutes later I came to the next trail junction. The next 1.4 miles would be a repeat for me. I've done this section of trail twice before but was fogged in. I was looking forward to the view from Bunnell Rock. The weather did clear. I got a view back to North Terrace . . .
. . . and a look into the valley.
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After talking with a couple more nice hikers that I met, Maddie and I pressed on towards the Boy Scout Cabin near the summit.
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Here's the view I missed on my first two times up. The day was still a little hazy, but the weather would improve even more throughout the day.
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Just after the cabin is another view to the west.
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Madison near the summit of Cabot
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I reached the 4180' summit of Cabot for the third time. It was my first time in August, so I get to check that off on the grid. It was Madison's first time and her 16th White Mountains 4000 footer. Now I get to explore some more new terrain. We made a fairly steep descent into the col as we headed toward The Bulge. Then the trail levelled off.
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We then had a minor climb up to the 3950' summit of the Bulge. The Bulge is on the New England 100 highest. That's #68 for me. Down we went into another col before reaching the spur trail for The Horn.
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Up we went. The trail required a little scrambling near the top. The Horn at 3905' also qualifies as a New England 100 highest. That's #69. That one didn't take long. Here's a look back at The Bulge in the foreground with Mount Cabot behind it.
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It had turned into a gorgeous day and the summit offered almost a complete 360° view.
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I could make out much of the profile of the Appalachian Trail from Mount Washington to Old Speck in Maine. I had the summit to myself for about 10 minutes. I was then joined by several other hikers. They were very knowledgable about the terrain and were able to help me identify some of the peaks in the distant. It was time to get going, so Maddie and I retraced our steps down the spur trail back to Kilkenny Ridge.
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We made our way down to Unknown Pond. An unusual name I think. Given the fact that it is named, wouldn't it then be known??? Here's Unknown Pond with The Horn in the background.
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This was my last chance for a shorter hike if I wanted it. Nope. I was still feeling pretty good, so off I went to Rogers Ledge.
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Looking up to Rogers Ledge
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Across some more bog bridging
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A quick stop at Kilback Pond.
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Madison cooled off in the Pond. Apparently she doesn't like to get the tip of her tail wet.
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Getting closer
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Lots of stone staircases to assist the steep climb
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The large open ledge with a stunning 180° view was my highlight of the day. I'm a firm believer in 'hike your own hike', but I think those who are only interested in hiking a mountain if it is on a particular list are missing out. This peak of 2965' offers an incredible view. Here's a few pictures.
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The Presidential Range is all the way in the back.
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The ledge was a little crowded with a group of teens who were spending the night at a nearby campsite. But they were quite and didn't disturb me from soaking in the view.
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My favorite view of the day.
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Madison takes a break
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I retraced my steps for about .6 miles back to the junction for the Mill Brook Trail which actually follows Cold Brook. Go figure? Then a long 3.8 mile hike out of the woods.
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I then came out at the Berlin Fish Hatchery.
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This was the wrong trailhead, but part of the plan. I then had a 1.7 mile walk up the road past York Pond to the other trailhead. I originally planned to jog this section. Huh! Who was I kidding. My feet were so sore, I had to settle for walking. I ditched my pack since I would be driving back this way and continued down the road. I reached my car, drove back for my pack, and kept my fingers crossed as I neared the gate. It was left open. That was a relief. It was a long, hot, but beautiful day.
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