Winter hike baldpate mountain via the appalachian trail. West summit and old speck mountain behind 600 x 450 1024 x 768. The table rock loop is a popular trail that continues to get winter traffic. Between old speck 4180, maine s third highest peak and mahoosuc notch on the highest pond in maine. The mahoosuc public reserved land is a beautiful and rugged landscape of mountain peaks, gorges, caves, and waterfalls. Extensive restoration ongoing, lots of rockwork and transplanting in the overused areas. Hiking up the steep summit trails rewards hikers with spectacular views, particularly on old speck mountain which at 4,180 feet is maine s third tallest mountain. Old speck is flanked to the southwest by mahoosuc arm, and faces baldpate mountain to the northeast across grafton notch.
Hike eyebrow trail to old speck mountain loop, maine 26. Winter hike the old speck trail in grafton notch state. The western portion of grafton notch state park offers two advanced hiking trails that offer excellent views of the mountain range and challenging terrain. Old speck trail is a challenging hike with spectacular views from an open observation tower at the summit. Check out my book before reality tv, gps devices, and dashboard computers, there was a coming of age for the maine warden service. It is also part of the eastern white mountains that stretches from new hampshire to maine. Six new tent platforms of varying sizes nicely situated along the a.
The trail takes you to the summit of old speck mountain and a fire. I took my time and went from rangeley to stratton, with a side trip to abraham, a short detour to sugarloaf summit, and a harder than expected bushwhack to redington from the at. Old speck mountain, also known as old speckle mountain, is a mountain located in oxford county, maine, united states. This would start me on the new england 4,000 footers and add to the new england hundred highest. Many of the other peaks are near sugarloaf or even further northward, so this was doable in a weekend. Old speck mountain newry, maine mountain, landmark. Hike old speck mountain maine new england 4000 footers. Uptodate hiking conditions near old speck me, 4000 this old speck trail map is based on crowd sourced data from open street map osm with added information from trailsnh.
As a 48 year old hiking with three 19 years olds two boys and a girl there we lots of laughs to be had especially on the way down. We made the decision to purchase tickets for the van shuttle back down to the pinkham notch visitors center, rather than hiking the descent, as daughter was fighting a headache, and we had done the fun part of the climb already. If youre accustomed to hiking old speck via the appalachian trails rugged southbound hike from the route 26 lot, or the brutal northbound at ascent of the mahoosuc arm, then its hard to believe that the grafton loop trail is in fact climbing old speck from this direction. We passed on table rock during this hike, but i highly recommend this detour for first timers as the views of adjacent old speck maine s third tallest mountain are worth the extra effort.
We chose old speck mtn near sunday river ski resort. Flanked to the southwest by mahoosuc arm and faces baldpate mountain to the northeast across grafton notch. With alpine skiing growing into a huge sensation, maine was looking to host the 1976 winter olympic games. Carson trail, rachel carson national wildlife refuge. Hiking info, trail maps, and 97 trip reports from old speck mountain 4170 ft. Interactive map and hikes by region hiking in maine. Hike maine 4,000 footers new england 4000 footers hike. My hiking plan was to take me into maine, climbing up to old speck mountain 4,170 via the eyebrow trail and return down the old speck trail. Hey meb, i did the maine 4000footers as a backpacking trip in october of last year. Old speck is in grafton notch state park and we started at the appalachian trail parking lot. The ascent of old speck doesnt get steep until the final mile. Todays forecast was warm temps in the 70s with lots of sunshine and blue sky. Learn more about northeast hikes here, and please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions or.
I took a thursday off of work i had to give two weeks notice and was lucky enough to have a beautiful day. Thinking about hiking old speck in maine from the at trailhead, down the other side to crash at speck pond campsite, then go back over the next. I was looking forward to this one but it was a tough time getting to the trailhead. The trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and snowshoeing.
Take a left turn after exiting the ramp and merge onto route 4. Hiking in maine a blog about exploring the pine tree state and beyond. On july 16, 2017, dad did a solo hike daughter had a planned visit to aquaboggan of old speck mountain 4,270 ft, a fairly strenuous 7. Old speck is a three hour drive for me, but the closest maine 4000footer. Climbing to mahoosuc arm and old speck pond section. With all the great hiking in maine, the grafton loop trail is a rarity for the state. In early 1967, old speck mountain in grafton notch was briefly considered as. This is a backpackers dream, with many challenging but scenic hikes, including a portion of the appalachian trail. My trip hiking old speck mountain, a 4,000 footer in maine. Those who make it up to summits will be rewarded with spectacular views, especially from old speck.
Backpacking old speck mtn and the west grafton loop. Old speck mountain, maine new englands cancelled ski areas. The mountain, the 4th highest in maine, is the northeasternmost and highest of the mahoosuc range, the northeasternmost part of the white mountains. Maine appalachian trail club me which winds through the forest up the mountain, with there are some amazing viewpoints along the way. Climbing old speck mountain in grafton notch state park. Best camping in and near mahoosuc public reserved land.
Even with its close proximity to massachusetts, its still a bit of a drive to get to any of the peaks. They make a fun, but slow and formidable scramble, bookended by a steep climb and descent at the ends. Best hikes of the appalachian trail new england lafe low. Hike maine 4000 footers mount abraham, mount bigelow avery peak, mount bigelow west peak, crocker mountain, mount katahdin hamlin peak, mount katahdin baxter peak, north brother mountain, old speck mountain, mount reddington, saddleback mountain, saddleback mountain the horn, spaulding mountain, sugarloaf mountain, 4000 footers, hike 4000 footer mountains maine. Old man on old speck mountain portland press herald. I never expected to revisit speck pond after hiking the section of the appalachian trail from grafton notch down to gentian pond in 2009.
Weve nearly finished the 4000s in vermont, so the focus was now on maine. The speck pond trailhead is located on success pond road, which runs from berlin, new hampshire to grafton notch, maine. Mis adventures of a trail angel in maines mahoosuc range. Fortunately the climb was a short one and we had just enough left in us to finish the trip on a high note. Old speck mountain and eyebrow loop maine trail finder. Located in grafton notch state park, old speck mountain has trails for different skill levels. Old speck out and back hiking trail, bethel, maine hiking project.
Marble intrusions in the granite 600 x 450 1024 x 768. Ascending maines third highest mountain fourth highest peak at. Old speck is a hiking adventure located in or near farmington, me. We used summer weight boots with toe warmers instead of mountaineering boots. Beginners guide to adventures on maines highest peaks. The old speck trail in grafton notch state park encompasses a 3. Grafton notch state park old speck mountain and eyebrow loop.
Overview located just north of sunday river, old speck is one of the tallest mountains in maine at 4,180 feet in elevation. Appalachian trail hikers past, present and future are invited to follow along with the maine and new hampshire section hiking blogs. I did not do any hiking for over a month between the stratton and old speck. Involving significant elevation gain to the 4,180 foot summit, old speck is maine s fourth highest peak and the tallest mountain in the mahoosuc range.
Located in grafton notch state park, old speck provides some nice hiking on the at and exceptional views of the white mountains and presidential range from its firetower. It is the highest mountain in the range, and the 4th highest mountain in the state of maine. Huge cairn on east summit that is not the high point 600 x 450 1024 x 768. The old speck trail in grafton notch state park is a nearperfect hike for intermediate hikers. Speck pond is on the south side of old speck mountain, a huge 4000 footer with a fire tower at the top. At the end of it all, we hiked a total of approximately 22 miles. This moderate hike takes you to the top of old speck. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. From i95, take exit 63 for us202 me 115 me 4 towards me 26graynew gloucester.
Grafton notch is a magnificent mountain pass in southwestern maine, a short drive from gorham, nh, the last major trail town that appalachian trail thruhikers visit before leaving new hampshire. Northeast hikes is on the hunt for the best new england hiking in maine and new hampshire, from katahdin to mt. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Winter hike the old speck trail in grafton notch state park, maine. A small observation tower was built on its summit in the last ten years and provides spectacular views in all directions from the lofty presidentials to the south to the jumbled, nameless peaks of northwestern maine to the north. Jason evertts is with hallie jennings at old speck mountain. Old speck reigns supreme in the mahoosucs rising 2500 feet above grafton notch and maine state route 26. The summit of old speck mountain is on the southern boundary of grafton notch state park.
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