Friday, October 19, 2018
Miles: 6.97
Elevation gain: 2205′
Start/end: Snow Mountain Trailhead, Unnamed Road, Eustis, ME 04936, off of ME-27 (GPS pin)
I headed out to the trailhead, arriving around 4:15pm. I changed into my boots, packed up my bag, and headed out on the trail by 4:30pm.
I followed the dirt/mud single track woods road for maybe a mile and a half, then took a right turn into the woods at a cairn to follow a clear herdpath.
After maybe 10 minutes on the herdpath, I emerged at a 4-way logging road intersection.
My GPS track lead me right, although there was a ribbon straight ahead that I decided to ignore. I followed this woods road for another mile or so, and then turned right to follow a herdpath into the woods again.
I followed that for about another mile before I finally arrived at the summit (#95) around 6pm, which is still occupied by the metal remains of the bottom portion of a fire tower.
The roof of the tower is off to the side of the summit clearing, along with the remains of a small cabin or outbuilding. I climbed the tower for some spectacular views, and some brutal windchill.
I scurried back down the tower and then back the way I’d come. I managed to leave my headlamp off until 6:30pm or so, once I hit the woods road again. From there, I retraced my steps to return to my rental truck by 7:30pm.
All said and done, I hiked the 7 miles in 2 hours 45 minutes, for an average of 2.5 MPH.
