.December 9, 2006
It was inevitable. It has snowed in Maine. This is the start of my 7th winter in Maine. About every other year we are able to escape December without snow but not this year. We didn't get much, but the night before last we got a couple inches of the fluffy white stuff. Brent from work will be joining me today as we hike up Blueberry Mountain. We drove over to the Maine portion of the White Mountains and were surprised to find even less snow. It barely covered the ground. That's good. Here's Brent as we start off on Shell Pond Trail.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ After about 15-20 minutes, we came to a trail junction
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I thought we might be going across private property today. On the map it was showing an area within the White Mountains National Forest that was NOT part of the White Mountains National Forest. At least whoever owns this land is nice enough to let a few hikers through. There was a trail at this junction (obviously). What confused me was there was not a trail shown on the map. Judging by the name of it (Shell Pond Loop), we figured it would loop around the pond. Since we wouldn't be heading back this way, we decided to keep a lookout for the other end so that we could come back that way.
We were thankful for this bridge even thogh the water was probably only a foot deep. I don't think the quarter of inch of ice would hold us. Although Brent said that if I walked on the ice and made it across, he would follow me. Nice guy, huh?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ How's this for a nice, wide smooth trail? This is very unusual for the area.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Airstrip???
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The sign meant exactly what it said. Whoever owns this land has their own personal airstrip for a small private plane. Hiking along an airstrip, this was a first.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We passed the stone house that is marked on the map. It looked boarded up, so I'm guessing it is someone's summer home. Being completely surrounded by the White Mountains National Forest makes this a private retreat.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's a small world. Dwayne, another co-worker, knew the people who owned this property back in the mid-70's and actually stayed there. Brent and I made it to the other end of the airstrip (without getting hit by a plane).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Within a few minutes we saw a sign that read 'Gorge'. We decided to check it out and took a side trail which led to this bridge.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Here's a look into the gorge which was choked with ice.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ This side trail, which wasn't on the map, continued; but we decided to go back to the main trail. Then we entered the wilderness.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The trail slowly steepens here before ending with a brutal climb. The climb at the end was probably only 15-20 minutes, but it was steep. Stone House Trail dead-ends into Blueberry Ridge Trail. A right here would take us to Speckled Mountain. Maybe another day. We took a left which immediately brought us to the summit of Blueberry Mountain.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Blueberry Mountain is just a small mountain at 1781 feet. There is a little bit of a view from here, but we were looking forward to taking the short scenic loop to the overlook.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Looking across to Baldface Mountain which is just over the state line into New Hampshire.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We had a great view down into the valley at the partial frozen and snow covered Shell Pond. The clearing to the right is part of the airstrip that we walked across earlier.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We finished the loop and continued down the Blueberry Ridge Trail before reaching the junction with White Cairn Trail.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ This was our way off the mountain, so we took it. I thought the name 'White Cairn Trail' was fitting with the snow covered cairns.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We had our share of views on the way down. Here's another shot of Baldface Mountain.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A look down into the valley
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Looking across to 'The Basin'.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The trail became very steep after this. There was just enough snow to make it even more challenging. Near the bottom we came across a massive stone staircase that helped out.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The trail flattened out after this. We went across a small bridge over a little stream. The bridge was only about a foot high. Whoever built this bridge has a sense of humor.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We came out at the start of the White Cairn Trail and headed up the road.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ This led back to the airstrip. There were nice views looking up to the mountains from here. Here's Baldface.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Looking up to Blueberry Mountain.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Brent and I scouted around for the other end of the Shell Pond Loop Trail, but with no luck. I have two maps of the White Mountains. Later on I checked out my other map which had the trail on it. Tomorrow I hope to come back here with Lynn and check it out.
Brent and I made our way back on Shell Pond Trail (the trail we came in on). Brent had a nice surprise for me when we got back to his truck: hot chocolate. He has some kind of super duper thermos. This was a cold day. We had left town about 6 hours ago and the cocoa was still piping hot. That hit the spot. Thanks Brent.
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