September 3, 2007
Well, my time at Baxter State Park is over and time to start the long drive home. Ed mentioned that he needed to climb the Bigelows and Redington to complete his 18th loop of the New England 4000 footers. That's right! 18 times. He was planning to hit the Bigelows on the way home, but when I mentioned I still needed Redington (for my 1st loop of the New England 4000 footers), he changed his plans to help me out. Thanks Ed!
Here's today's track.
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This 4000 footer doesn't get the credit it deserves. It's an easy hike, mostly on old logging roads, has open terrain, and some nice views along the way. It's always questionable how far you can drive up Caribou Valley Road. We played it safe and parked by the Appalachian Trail which we immediately crossed. (Note the white blaze on the rock below.
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We walked up the road about one mile. This road with the cairn next to it, is more or less the actual starting point of the hike.
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A car with several hikers in it pulled up. They had some questions about the trail up Redington.
"You asked the right guy," I said. "This is Ed's 18th time climbing Redington."
Some drive a little further up the logging road, but I wouldn't want to take a vehicle over this.
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Ed points with his pole to the top of Mount Redington
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This area was logged and replanted years ago.
Ed says the trees have doubled in size since he started hiking here.
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If you turn around on the way up, you will get a view of Sugarloaf . . .
. . . and Mount Abraham.
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The trail which was really a road, got narrower and narrower until it finally turned into a footpath for the final 3/10ths. Ed directed me over to the cannister at the top. Note the elevation of 3984.
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Even with today's technology, there is still debate over the exact elevation of some mountains. However, the Appalachian Mountain Club does list this mountain as an official 4000 footer. This is my 63rd New England 4000 footer and last Maine 4000 footer. I just have 4 left, all of which are in Vermont.
For those who may not want to hike Redington because there is no view at the top, guess what? They just put one in. Honest, they really did. For those who may not know, this was the proposed location of the windmill project that was denied (although I do believe an alternate proposal is in the works). There is large pole with a very small test windmill on it. Apparently an area was cleared for this. Here I am in front of the new view.
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Ed was up here about 15 months ago, and this clearing was not here, so it is fairly new.
Ed signed our names on the notepad and put the pad back into the cannister.
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As we were leaving, the other hikers reached the top.
One of them asked, "Are you Ed?"
"Yes," replied Ed.
"I went on a hike with you several years ago."
Ed's amazing! Everyone knows him. When she mentioned who she was, Ed remembered the hike. That's pretty impressive considering Ed has gone on thousands of hikes.
We got one last look at the new view. That's North Crocker (on the left) and South Crocker (on the right). The two peaks of Bigelow are visible in the distant.
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Ed and I returned over the same route.
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