Saturday June 4, 2005

COP Snow

Today we joined Amy and MichaelJ in hiking a small peak just west of Stratton Maine called "Chain of Ponds Snow" which is one of the New England Hundred Highest peaks.

This is the route we took today.

Directions to the trailhead: Starting at the Cathederal Pines campground in Eustis, Maine, travel west on Route 27 9.8 miles to a logging road on your left which is marked by a sign indicating Penobscot Indian land. Travel 3.8 miles on this dirt road until you come to a junction. Bear right and go another mile to a parking area on your left. At this point the road is blocked by two large boulders.

Time to summit: @ 2 Hours

This is the profile of the hike.

A 3-D view of our hike to the summit.

This is the sign that marks the dirt road at Route 27.

Here we are at the parking area. It was a nice sunny day - Summer has arrived!

The trail starts out on an ATV trail that leads to the pond.

Amy showing off her patches that she has earned.

The VFTT patch deserves equal time.

A few minutes after starting out on the trail you take left between two yellow posts and cross a bridge.

MichealJ and Geri making there way up the ATV trail. The trail was this wide all the way to the pond.

You will reach a junction with the trail turning to the right. There is a wooden sign, but there is also bright yellow signes with black arrows that mark the trail.

A little over an hour later we reached the pond and enjoyed the views and breeze.

We spotted 4 fisherman in canoes that they had carried on racks built into the ATV's.

After leaving the pond the trail becomes narrower and rockier with one good scramble about 20 minutes from the summit.

The first view of the tower!

The cab is tilting back and to the right - it is not safe at this point and will probably come crashing down in the next few years.

Just to the right of the tower is the old cabin for the ranger that manned the tower.

Here is MichaelJ approaching the tower.

Amy was the first to venture up the ladder.

She was rewarded with nice views despite the hazey day.

While I took my turn climbing, lunch was opened and begun.

Geri takes one last look before we headed back down to the car. This was our first hike in warm weather this year and had us wishing for Winter.

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