Also on this trip

Trails Used

AT, Sugarloaf side trail, Spaulding side trail, Abraham side trail, bushwack, logging roads, herd path, AT

Trail Conditions

Notes

What a day! 0430 start from rt27. First car in the lot. Nice and cool climb over the crockers with great sunrise/ early morning views through the trees. Met a NOBO thru hiker just before N crocker summit. I'd say he is ahead of the bubble... A few down trees below cirque tent site but otherwise clear. Hopped over Carrabassett, de-layered, and hit the gorgeous climb up the loaf (trying to not trip over the "sugar lumps"(rocks) that cover the trail). Took a break at the loaf summit to take in the stunning scenery before cruising the ridge to Spaulding. Stopped quick at Spaulding shelter to check the log book. A few thru hikers had checked in, one in early May saying he post holed all the way off saddleback down to saddleback jr... The ridge to Abraham had a few small trees down but nothing bad. Slight breeze up high kept the heat at bay for the exposed climb. Such a great spot. From there I backtracked towards Spaulding shelter, meeting two separate hikers, and took the bushwack west to the old snomo trail and down to caribou pond. Some areas of marshy moose moss but not bad if you don't mind damp feet. ;) Then back up toward Redington. The path was in ok shape, with just a normal amount of small leaners and overgrowth. Met an older gentleman taking a break on the climb back to S crocker, nice to talk to him for a minute. Double tapped south and north crocker, then I cruised down the AT back to rt 27 and my beautiful steed. No snow on the route and mud wasn't bad. Around 31 miles with 10k vert. This puts me at 113/132 western ME 4k grid

Parking

Big lot on rt 27 at the AT crossing was still half full when I finished at 6pm

Water Crossings

The board bridge over the Carrabassett is up, but slightly beaten up. Easy to cross

Wildlife

Not much today

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Bushwhack, Caribou Valley Road, Appalachian Trail, bushwhacks, snowmobile trails

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

The bushwhack from the golf course is short but no clear path could be followed. Snow was balling on snowshoes from the start, until just below S. Crocker summit. 4-6 in of fresh powder after that. Broke trail all day. The slide portion was steep and a little bit tricky, hard snow but no ice. The AT between SC and C is beautiful and smooth, easy to follow. Snow pack has already reduced, just fresh snow on the trees. The bushwhack from SC to dirt road is not a clear path, some flagging here and there but can’t rely on that. That was the most fun part for us! The start of the Redington bw is very well marked, and the way up is easy. Took us one hour up and down. It was a long walk out, at one point two snowmobiles came in so it made it a bit easier for us. Took us 11 hours for the 24km.

Parking

Sugarloaf golf course

Water Crossings

All main crossings have bridges

Trails Used

Bushwhack, Caribou Valley Road, snowmobile trails, bushwhack

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

The warm day made for tough conditions in spots. The bushwhacks required snowshoes. The skimobile trails were also better served with snowshoes although up until just after the AT crossing, you could get by with spikes in the morning. We stayed on the snowmobile trails as long as possible. We skipped the first potential bushwhack off of the snowmobile trails and stayed on them until the bushwhack entry if you had come from South Crocker. This was at times tough to follow, had some drifting, and had major postholing in spots even with the snowshoes. Even worse coming down off of Redington with the warm day. In the end, 15.5 miles total.

Parking

Sugarloaf golf course parking lot was plowed with plenty of parking

Water Crossings

Bridge to get from Sugarloaf golf course road to bushwhack