billski
Active member
Two days before my infamous climb, I headed out for a short day hike in the Maine portion of the White Mountains. The Great Brook Trail leads from the North Lovell area to the saddle between Speckled and Butters Mountain. Not on anyone's radar, and so the trail conditions also revealed. I look for places like this. It became very remote, very quickly even though it was only a short distance to town.
The trail sees very little usage and seemingly very little maintenance. The trail had several washouts, old blowdowns. Trail markers were often non-existant and time was lost locating the trail. Last marking maintenance looks to be several years old. That said, this path into the WMNF Speckled-Caribou Wilderness area were a nature lover's delight. If you decide to take this trail, a map and compass are strongly advised.
I had ambitously hoped to do a circut up Great Brook, scross Butters and Red Rock and back through Mile notch. Plans were cut short due my promise to be back for a commitment and a very fast entering thunderstorm which sent me scooting back downhill when I was nearly to the summit.
Enjoyable hike, looks like people avoid the E side of Speckled, so if solace is your thing, you'll enjoy this hike.
The "arrow" described in the White Mountain Guide:
A lot of the trail looked like this, including a couple of brook crossings:
The trail sees very little usage and seemingly very little maintenance. The trail had several washouts, old blowdowns. Trail markers were often non-existant and time was lost locating the trail. Last marking maintenance looks to be several years old. That said, this path into the WMNF Speckled-Caribou Wilderness area were a nature lover's delight. If you decide to take this trail, a map and compass are strongly advised.
I had ambitously hoped to do a circut up Great Brook, scross Butters and Red Rock and back through Mile notch. Plans were cut short due my promise to be back for a commitment and a very fast entering thunderstorm which sent me scooting back downhill when I was nearly to the summit.
Enjoyable hike, looks like people avoid the E side of Speckled, so if solace is your thing, you'll enjoy this hike.
The "arrow" described in the White Mountain Guide:
A lot of the trail looked like this, including a couple of brook crossings:
