And yes, we were the only brave souls that got there early to break trail 🙂 Even with a stop at the infamous ‘Jimbobs’!! Your cold bud-larry pit-stop.. “outhouse is outback!” – Its got to be some landmark – one of those true Maine stops where they have one of everything you may need, and you wonder if even the Spam has been on the shelf long enough to go bad… Didn’t get to meet him, but next time 🙂
You eventually end up on some backarse road that does not look like it could have a trailhead on it, and of course even though your going 15 MPH looking for the lot, drove right past it! The lot wasn’t even touched yet, but got in thanks to the beast! Warning for any city dwellers planning this after a storm. Your mini may not make it 🙂 Trailhead is directly across from the lot. I was told this is the same mountain as Shawny Peak. Just the backside.
This climb was kick ___ in the snow. New snowshoes to boot! The trail is easy to follow, with blue diamond blazes all the way up. It wasn’t extremely steep or strenuous, however not sure what could have been hiding under the 2 feet of snow! And fair to point out, anything in 2 feet of that stuff is strenuous. The views along the way are outstanding and we didn’t see a single soul the whole way up!!
There is the first open look out that gives stunning views. Almost feels like you can see the ocean…
And, a very sweet story to take in here. There is a little grave at this look out, story has it that it was one of the favorite spots of a local lady. When she passed, her hubby carried her up to this spot and buried her there so she could be where she loved.
And sweeter, the grave stone reads, ‘a very special lady’. Warms my heart. Not to get all weepy, but standing in the open fresh air, dead quiet in a winter wonderland, thinking about how very sweet that is… It was just nice.
The rest of the way is a little more steep than the first bit, your almost on a ridge that keeps the views rewarding as you think you’re getting close to the summit. It starts to
open up (enter 3 foot snow drifts up to your waist!!) – and you can see where there is a little shack. Just past that, you see the tower and the summit opens up to spectacular views!!! You get a 360 of the Whites, some of the Maine Mountains, frozen lakes.. The slide down was fun – Wished we could have used the sleds, but half tumbling down 2 feet of snow has its giggles 🙂 Its just simply perfect.
EAT.DRINK.PLAYOUTSIDE! 