A cold cloudy morning would yield to sunny skies on my trek back to the car.
Starting Point: Big Hill Shelter, The Long Path/Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail junction
Starting Point: Big Hill Shelter, The Long Path/Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail junction
Saturday Mileage: 7.25
Hike Time: 3 hours
I typically don't sleep very well when backpacking or camping, and this night was no exception. For some reason I was more restless than usual. I woke early and planned my departure so that I could get home with time to unpack, relax and execute my Sunday routine before the work week began. Maybe that is why I could not sleep.
I emerged from my tent before sunrise to a navy blue sky. The weather was partly cloudy and temperatures were in the 30's. It took some time and movement before I could get warmed up. I collected my food and began to break down my tent. In a matter of minutes I was in the shelter and organizing my pack for the return hike. I had some small kindling left over so I started a small fire to warm myself a little more. By 7:15 I was on my way.
I set off southwest on the yellow Suffern-Bear Mountain trail. It was easy trail walking along a bush covered rocky ridge. In only 20 minutes I reached the intersection with the white marked Breakneck Mountain trail. The terrain along this section of trail would be just as it had been thus far, though a little rocky. The crisp air seemed to be getting colder as the clouds cleared and sun broke through. Views of Breakneck Pond and Third Reservoir could be seen through the trees this time of year due to the naked branches and limbs. I meandered through the woods until reaching the red Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy trail, around 2 miles and just under an hour since departing camp.
Continuing in a southwesterly direction I followed the red blazes. The ground was slightly less rocky along this stretch that saw a small incline and brighter sunshine. On my way to the next junction I was able to catch a few cool pictures thanks to the sun AND moon. Short of 2 miles ahead was the blue Seven Hills trail.
Upon reaching the blue Seven Hills trail, I saw on the map I was due for a climb. It was pretty easy, but the air felt colder still due to increased wind. It must have felt like 20 degrees. There was a scenic lookout not far from the summit of my climb. I would stop there and add my windbreaker to ward off the gusting breeze. At the viewpoint was a fantastic landscape of Lake Sebago. I could see the southern shoreline I had traversed 2 days earlier. I had a rather cold and hardened protein bar then proceeded through the brisk morning to a merge with the orange Hillburn-Torne-Sebago trail (H-T-S).
The orange H-T-S travels along exposed rock on the summit of Diamond Mountain. It would descend steeply after an intersection with a yellow trail before leveling off again.
Clear blue skies, a shining sun and cool temperatures told me the rest of the day would be magnificent (and busy). Staying overnight in the park and enjoying mornings like these was far more pleasurable than an afternoon on a crowded trail. Not a soul was seen, nary a sound heard until I was within half a mile of the parking lot.
As the trail descended steeply once more, I made my last real turn onto the rocky white Kakiat trail alongside the roaring Pine Meadow Creek.
The return trek along with white Kakiat trail was rocky and uneven. The sound of the rushing creek to my left was relaxing and so I took my time without haste. At the bridge in the photo above I joined the yellow Stony Brook trail and crossed the creek. With Stony Brook on the right I traveled slowly with no purpose towards the parking area. At the end of the yellow trail I would link up with the red Pine Meadow trail. By this time I passed numerous hikers in groups of 2-5. By the time I made it to the lot I had seen 2 large groups of more than 10 people.
Having completed another weekend in the wilderness I was very pleased with my trip. I met some nice people who offered good food, paid respects to the victims of a plane crash and sat by the fire while reading a good book. I look forward to the next time I can do this again.
I typically don't sleep very well when backpacking or camping, and this night was no exception. For some reason I was more restless than usual. I woke early and planned my departure so that I could get home with time to unpack, relax and execute my Sunday routine before the work week began. Maybe that is why I could not sleep.
I emerged from my tent before sunrise to a navy blue sky. The weather was partly cloudy and temperatures were in the 30's. It took some time and movement before I could get warmed up. I collected my food and began to break down my tent. In a matter of minutes I was in the shelter and organizing my pack for the return hike. I had some small kindling left over so I started a small fire to warm myself a little more. By 7:15 I was on my way.
I set off southwest on the yellow Suffern-Bear Mountain trail. It was easy trail walking along a bush covered rocky ridge. In only 20 minutes I reached the intersection with the white marked Breakneck Mountain trail. The terrain along this section of trail would be just as it had been thus far, though a little rocky. The crisp air seemed to be getting colder as the clouds cleared and sun broke through. Views of Breakneck Pond and Third Reservoir could be seen through the trees this time of year due to the naked branches and limbs. I meandered through the woods until reaching the red Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy trail, around 2 miles and just under an hour since departing camp.
Continuing in a southwesterly direction I followed the red blazes. The ground was slightly less rocky along this stretch that saw a small incline and brighter sunshine. On my way to the next junction I was able to catch a few cool pictures thanks to the sun AND moon. Short of 2 miles ahead was the blue Seven Hills trail.
Upon reaching the blue Seven Hills trail, I saw on the map I was due for a climb. It was pretty easy, but the air felt colder still due to increased wind. It must have felt like 20 degrees. There was a scenic lookout not far from the summit of my climb. I would stop there and add my windbreaker to ward off the gusting breeze. At the viewpoint was a fantastic landscape of Lake Sebago. I could see the southern shoreline I had traversed 2 days earlier. I had a rather cold and hardened protein bar then proceeded through the brisk morning to a merge with the orange Hillburn-Torne-Sebago trail (H-T-S).
The orange H-T-S travels along exposed rock on the summit of Diamond Mountain. It would descend steeply after an intersection with a yellow trail before leveling off again.
Clear blue skies, a shining sun and cool temperatures told me the rest of the day would be magnificent (and busy). Staying overnight in the park and enjoying mornings like these was far more pleasurable than an afternoon on a crowded trail. Not a soul was seen, nary a sound heard until I was within half a mile of the parking lot.
As the trail descended steeply once more, I made my last real turn onto the rocky white Kakiat trail alongside the roaring Pine Meadow Creek.
The return trek along with white Kakiat trail was rocky and uneven. The sound of the rushing creek to my left was relaxing and so I took my time without haste. At the bridge in the photo above I joined the yellow Stony Brook trail and crossed the creek. With Stony Brook on the right I traveled slowly with no purpose towards the parking area. At the end of the yellow trail I would link up with the red Pine Meadow trail. By this time I passed numerous hikers in groups of 2-5. By the time I made it to the lot I had seen 2 large groups of more than 10 people.
Having completed another weekend in the wilderness I was very pleased with my trip. I met some nice people who offered good food, paid respects to the victims of a plane crash and sat by the fire while reading a good book. I look forward to the next time I can do this again.
Comments
Post a Comment