Trails Used

Woods roads, bushwhack, road walk

Trail Conditions

Notes

I was biking around North Danville and saw these 2400’ peaks on the map. The first one I didn’t know the name until I found the jar. (That is part of the fun of the NE 1000 highest). I parked my bike at the unmaintained part of Coles Pond Road coming from the east. At the height-of-land I found an orange gate with a state forest / No Atv sign. This road got me close to the peak I was aiming for, but beavers had flooded part of it so I got to bushwhack around through a cedar swamp with colorful blooming plants. The low areas between all these peaks were marshy, but my boots stayed dry with careful stepping. In the upper woods there is plenty of undergrowth like ferns, nettles and hobblebush but the woods were easy enough to move through quickly. All 3 summits were not hard to find, with registers with just a few pages left. Not many names going back 10+ years. There is a large dilapidated cabin on Bear Mtn, so I assume a road can be followed up there. I whacked on to Kittredge, then angled back toward the road and came out in someone’s backyard between the small ponds shown on the map.

Parking

Coles Pond Road from the east is eroded but could be passable for high enough clearance vehicles. I was on my bicycle, and parked it near the start of the unmaintained section and walked up since I was going to end my loop here.

Water Crossings

Hopped over a few small streams. Almost crossed a beaver dam but decided to go wide around the pond.

Wildlife

Not too bad today with temps in the high 50s.

Trails Used

Bushwhack

Trail Conditions

Notes

After climbing Black, Wheeler, and E Bear, I had plenty of time left in the day so I decided to revisit one of my favorite 3k bushwhacks, NW Bear. Since I was on the Sunday River side, I wanted to see about access from the logging roads from Ketchum. I drove as far as I dared with my truck before the mud got too sloppy to handle, then started up the logging roads to its terminus at a knoll between 2100-2200'. I followed the steep mountainside up through several hundred feet of old logging regrowth and copious moose scat. Above the logging regrowth was moderate red spruce woods for several hundred feet, above which was open spruce and fir woods. I popped out on the summit ridge just east of the true summit. Views from the summit ledge were incredible. Above 3000', ~10% of the ground had snow cover, mostly <6" depth. On the north side between 2600-3000', there was closer to 20% coverage, but still nothing that low gaiters won't protect against. The ground was still frozen above 3000'. This approach would work well for anybody wanting a short approach to this peak for its view as long as you have a truck with working 4x4. The logging roads are very washed out once you cross Sunday River and head up the north side of the mountains.

Trails Used

Bear Mt Trail to Elwell to summit, Cardigan View, and back

Trail Conditions

Notes

The lower section of the Bear Mt trail is loaded with yellow violets; arbutus and trillium to follow soon. The lake was like glass!

Parking

parked just above Bear Mt trailhead

Water Crossings

no issues

Wildlife

none

Trails Used

Welton Falls Trail (North), Elwell Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Terrific afternoon hike - so glad to get back on this trail since fall. Only a bit of snow left along the ridge - maybe a 10' section. Terrific views from outlooks and Cardigan view. Didn't see anyone - usually we don't.

Parking

plenty of parking roadside Valley View Rd

Water Crossings

no issues

Wildlife

none - YAAAAY