As I say every time, any day spent in the mountains is a good day! Or this time, even those that land you off trail, bushwhacking straight up the 4,170 foot mountain, post-holing every 3 steps over your waist, swimming in 4+foot tall snow. What would have normally (and should have) taken us just under 5 hours, ended up being over 7.5 hours, and A LOT more effort, pain and eventually reward than expected.
Cabot (the Northern most 4000 footer in NH) offers a few options for summitting; the first is an 11.4 mile loop that includes Unknown Pond, the Horn, and the Bulge, ultimately making your way to Cabot. For most this loop starts on Unknown Pond trail, hooks up with Kilkenny Ridge and finishes on Bunnel Notch trail. If you want to skip all that other stuff and make a direct shot to Cabot, there is an in-and-out option by starting on Bunnel Notch trail and going directly to Cabot – short and sweet to the top. This was our original plan! Hit Cabot first and make a decision if we wanted to carry on and do the full loop based upon how we were feeling and trail conditions. We knew from recent reports it was in good condition and well packed to Cabot at least. The knee, however, the last week or so has been screaming at me (this hike was a year and a day from last year’s surgery!!), so figured we’d play it safe.
We parked @ York Pond (fish hatchery) in Berlin and so began our first snag. For two hikers that were well prepared, had done the research and are usually in-tune and ready to rock – we actually started on the wrong freaking trail. Looking back at pics – we actually took a pic in-front of the sign even, and neither of us questioned it!!! REALLY?! Thus, so began our adventure (LOOP) on Unknown Pond trail and NOT Bunnel. Of course, we didn’t realize this until AFTER we were 45 minutes in!! UGH! Not turning around now- onward!! Lesson here kids – When doing this hike, check the signage – Unknown Pond starts right from the lot, and for Bunnel you need to take a walk down the road a bit. I have to think most people catch this – yes, its embarrassing and funny at the same time. Hey wait a second… Brian had wanted to do the whole loop… And had planned where we parked… AND had taken my pic infront of the ‘Unknown Pond’ trail sign. Sabotaged!!!!
The Unknown Pond trail was really nice. Steady climb, but nothing strenuous. Kind of like a nice little meander – well a crooked slanted meander. Much of this portion was at a tilt – as you’re following along a slanted ridge. Note if you are doing this in the winter – make sure you had crampons or spikes. With ice under the snow, there are parts you’re holding onto the trees to avoid sliding down – and there’s water (and ragged trees below!!). Little postholing here and there to start – somehow I was the one going in…Little did I know what laid ahead. This was peanuts.
The doggers enjoyed lots of water crossings, which even with all the thaw and rain, were mostly manageable (especially if you’re Winnie and you just gun it across!).
We hit Unknown Pond without too much work at about 3.3 miles. Such a nice little spot! Would definitely return here in the summer to camp. From online pics looks like the pond may be more of a swamp – but worth a shot 🙂 They have 5 tent sites that are pretty secluded. Only bummer according to the sign is no fires at the separate sites – only one central fire allowed. So for those “hermit I want to climb in my jammies and stare at the stars anti-social and be by my own fire” peeps – may have to go fire-less. Boo. Anyways – still a gorgeous spot!!
Continue upwards – still nothing too crazy. There are some steeper sections with a little elevation gain and before you know it, you hit the side trail for the Horn. This is supposed to have great views for the additional .6 (there and back) from the trail to hit the summit. For reasons I mentioned above (old lady knee), I thought it best to skip it so Wy-guy and I continued on slowly while Bri and Winnie-bear veered off to catch some added views! Sadly – that’s not what they got!! Lots of clouds – all socked in!!
Up to this point we had mostly been following solo tracks that looked like they were actually coming back down – and we hadn’t seen any blazes on this trail. While they enjoyed the fog and clouds on the Horn we continued on to Cabot following those same tracks. Bri and Winnie would catch up. I’d say this is where it started to really gain incline. The trail keeps going up a good steady climb and steepness for a bit and then it seemed to level out and duck down like we were approaching the ridge. We hit the flat point, still no Brian and Winnie. When suddenly, the little fella I had been following just disappeared. No joke – out of thin air. The tracks just GONE!!! Lots of snow drifts. I continued a bit trying to see where the trail may go – but was not confident enough. So figured to keep moving and stay warm, I’d head back the same way I came to eventually run into Bri and Winnie and assess our track.
Once the group was back together and in the spot of the disappearing little fella – we followed what we thought was the trail for maybe another .3 miles before it all went shatty real real quick. We couldn’t find the trail – no markers – and at this point every 3rd step you were waist deep on one leg and ground level with the other – creating the most lovely stretching position until you moved ever so slightly and go crashing through with both legs up to your belly in your own lovely snow version of a straight jacket – All squirming and wiggling and not going anywhere!!! NO BUENO.
We plugged on like this checking the GPS and map every 10-15 minutes trying to at least stick close to what we thought was the trail. I couldn’t tell you if that trail has switchbacks or not – but I can tell you our bushwhack was the most direct way plugging straight up to the highest point we could see. Not gonna lie – few moments I got a little worried. This part of the hike was some of the hardest hiking I’ve done – and I’ve hiked A LOT. So yes, the hikers (or just smart ones) may be asking, no snow shoes?! Ok – Lesson #3, don’t leave your snowshoes in the truck.
About an hour and a half of this evil grueling swimming in snow straight up a 4000 footer – I saw it. There it was – like a heavenly site! I felt like the guy that’s been floating in the ocean for 3 days and finally sees land – I saw it!!!! TRACKS!!!!! Holy shite. Thank God. That was bad. Brian’s toes were swimming in water.
By this point, we’re over 5 hours into a hike that was supposed to be under 5 hours and haven’t even summitted yet. You’re kidding right. About 20 minutes after we found the tracks we hit the summit – YAY!!!!! From the summit you continue on to an open area where you get to enjoy all the views – and what amazing views they were. This is the time when you take it all in and the arse busting you just did to make it here – all seems worth it. We took a few pics – as many as we could with frozen fingies and scurried into the cabin a few further yards down the path. The cabin has seen better days and I think the last folks to stay in there enjoyed an after hike treat of some leafy greens – not the kind you put in salad. So we switched some gear – commenced about the pain and continued on 🙂
And then we got a taste of what we had actually planned for – the Cabot side of the Kilkenny Ridge trail, and the Bunnel Notch trail, both hard packed monorail walking. SERIOUSLY!???!!! At this point all of us are like half drowned wet rats that just battled a flood. This trail was easy peasy. Nice decline – nothing too steep. Easy to follow. And the best part – I finally got to try my butt sled I’ve had for 2 years!!!! That thing was amazing. At that point – any way down off my knee was PERFECT! Even if it meant some butt bruises.
We closed out the hike the way we intended to start it – on Bunnel off York Pond Rd. A very short walk back to the truck. All in all – this was a hell of a day. Funny – as much as my leggers are screaming today and I’ve had to listen Brian whine a lot, I wouldn’t change a thing – It’s a reminder that even when we find ourselves in a crappy spot or situation – push on – push hard- and once you’re back on top at the spot you want to be – it makes all that extra hard work and sweat so darn rewarding. Don’t give up. And keep your butt on the right trail.
Dearest Numero 27 – the doggers will sleep like babies and I will feel your pain for a while to come. Thanks for the adventure.
My fatbike will be getting my dedicated attention for the next 2 weeks while my knee recede’s from a dodgeball size status 🙂 And I am OK with that.
What an adventure. Happy heart – hurting leggers 🙂
EAT.DRINK.PLAYOUTSIDE! 
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