ChileMass
Active member
Date - Friday, July 16, 2004
Trails Hiked - Bickford Brook Trail to Blueberry Ridge
Distance/Elevation - about 3 miles, approx 1100 feet vertical gain.
Difficulty - moderate
Conditions - terrific. Some puffy clouds that just added to the view.
Special Equipment Required - bug spray! Maine skeeters barely slow down even when they encounter 100% DEET.
Report -
OK - if the AMC White Mt. Guide says Blueberry Mountain is a moderate hike, it's a moderate hike, so don't let the soft name fool you. This was a great family hike, just long enough and steep enough that the kids started to complain near the top, but not too long that they got bummed out. Blueberry Mt. only rises to a total of 1785' of elevation, but my goal is to wean my kids into this slowly and get them hooked. So far it's working. I was joined by my almost-8-year-old daughter Erin, my best buddy Rob and his 12-year-old son, Daniel. Erin woke up Friday asking to go for a hike, and we had a great, sunny day to do it. Bought a picnic lunch in Bridgeton, and we hit the trail at the crack of 11:30AM.
The Evans Notch area certainly lived up to its reputation - it's just beautiful. The trailhead is just off Maine State Route 113, which winds through the impressive working farms north from Fryeburg and becomes a narrow 2-lane ribbon immediately at the Brickett Place entrance to the WMNF. Brickett Place is a semi-restored 1830 brick house with a small museum inside (donations graciously accepted). The caretaker was as nice as could be and gave us some info about the trails and the conditions.
Bickford Brook trail is a very easy walk below its junction with Blueberry Ridge. Only one old and one new blowdown, and we easily stepped over these. Blueberry Ridge forks off to the left, and after a slight descent we crossed Bickford Brook. At this point I was thinking this hike might be too easy. But - I got my comeuppance in just a few steps after the brook crossing, because Blueberry Ridge goes straight up the face of the hill until it reaches the open ledges which overlook the Basin (a small pond) and provide a tremendous view of east slopes of the Baldface and Carter Ranges. A great view, for sure. We were sweaty by the time we got up top, but we got a big reward because Blueberry Mountain lived up to its name. On the ledges at the top were mats of wild blueberries growing everywhere, and they were in perfect ripeness. The kids were pumped, and we could barely get them to head back down. They made a great natural dessert after our picnic. Saw 2 other parties on our way down (had seen no one on the way up), about 10 people total. Erin took a tumble on the way down and cut up her knee, but after some first aid (remember to bring that emergency kit!), she was the first one to the bottom.
One more thing - be sure to see the "bear slides" at the Bickford Brook crossing. Smooth, moss-covered chutes that hollowed out a circular cave at the bottom, and looked like a lot of fun.
A great day - we were back at the car at 3:00PM after a one-hour descent. I highly recommend this hike to families or casual hikers vacationing in the western Maine/Conway area. We actually drove up from Sebago Lake State park in Naples, and it was a little less than an hour to get there. Evans Notch is an excellent less-traveled alternative to other WMNF areas, and definitiely worth checking out.
Pics are Here - http://forums.alpinezone.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
Trails Hiked - Bickford Brook Trail to Blueberry Ridge
Distance/Elevation - about 3 miles, approx 1100 feet vertical gain.
Difficulty - moderate
Conditions - terrific. Some puffy clouds that just added to the view.
Special Equipment Required - bug spray! Maine skeeters barely slow down even when they encounter 100% DEET.
Report -
OK - if the AMC White Mt. Guide says Blueberry Mountain is a moderate hike, it's a moderate hike, so don't let the soft name fool you. This was a great family hike, just long enough and steep enough that the kids started to complain near the top, but not too long that they got bummed out. Blueberry Mt. only rises to a total of 1785' of elevation, but my goal is to wean my kids into this slowly and get them hooked. So far it's working. I was joined by my almost-8-year-old daughter Erin, my best buddy Rob and his 12-year-old son, Daniel. Erin woke up Friday asking to go for a hike, and we had a great, sunny day to do it. Bought a picnic lunch in Bridgeton, and we hit the trail at the crack of 11:30AM.
The Evans Notch area certainly lived up to its reputation - it's just beautiful. The trailhead is just off Maine State Route 113, which winds through the impressive working farms north from Fryeburg and becomes a narrow 2-lane ribbon immediately at the Brickett Place entrance to the WMNF. Brickett Place is a semi-restored 1830 brick house with a small museum inside (donations graciously accepted). The caretaker was as nice as could be and gave us some info about the trails and the conditions.
Bickford Brook trail is a very easy walk below its junction with Blueberry Ridge. Only one old and one new blowdown, and we easily stepped over these. Blueberry Ridge forks off to the left, and after a slight descent we crossed Bickford Brook. At this point I was thinking this hike might be too easy. But - I got my comeuppance in just a few steps after the brook crossing, because Blueberry Ridge goes straight up the face of the hill until it reaches the open ledges which overlook the Basin (a small pond) and provide a tremendous view of east slopes of the Baldface and Carter Ranges. A great view, for sure. We were sweaty by the time we got up top, but we got a big reward because Blueberry Mountain lived up to its name. On the ledges at the top were mats of wild blueberries growing everywhere, and they were in perfect ripeness. The kids were pumped, and we could barely get them to head back down. They made a great natural dessert after our picnic. Saw 2 other parties on our way down (had seen no one on the way up), about 10 people total. Erin took a tumble on the way down and cut up her knee, but after some first aid (remember to bring that emergency kit!), she was the first one to the bottom.
One more thing - be sure to see the "bear slides" at the Bickford Brook crossing. Smooth, moss-covered chutes that hollowed out a circular cave at the bottom, and looked like a lot of fun.
A great day - we were back at the car at 3:00PM after a one-hour descent. I highly recommend this hike to families or casual hikers vacationing in the western Maine/Conway area. We actually drove up from Sebago Lake State park in Naples, and it was a little less than an hour to get there. Evans Notch is an excellent less-traveled alternative to other WMNF areas, and definitiely worth checking out.
Pics are Here - http://forums.alpinezone.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
