Gretel and I ascended Mt. Waumbek in the Pliny Range somewhat unceremoniously on September 29. It just squeaks into the four-thousand footer list, standing at 4006'. It is known as one of the easiest peaks on the list, which was fine with me, having hiked some big miles on Isolation the weekend before. Waumbek is one of the two northernmost peaks in the WMNF, along with Mt. Cabot, and the trip to the trailhead brings you through some beautiful country full of quaint farms and small communities. Driving east on 116 an unexpected, sweeping view opened up on the left, colored with large swaths of autumn foliage. It was grey and drizzly when we arrived at the trailhead, and we got started around noon, up the Starr King trail. Autumn was in full swing; the colors in the forest were beautiful.
We soon passed the remains of what looked like an old well, and climbed steadily for a couple of miles. The trail was wide and easy to follow, with good footing, and climbed steadily and moderately as it circled up the mountain, and we soon came upon the summit of Mt. Starr King (The mountain is named after Thomas Starr King an orator and politician in California during the Civil War) An old stone chimney - all that remains of a cabin that used to stand here - stood in a clearing, surrounded by evergreens. Usually this summit offers some pretty nice views, apparently, but not on a grey day like this - also, apparently, the trees have grown up in the last few years. Gretel scoped out the chimney ruins, and we found a little sign that read "PATH" on the other side of the clearing, leading the way down into the col between Starr King and Waumbek. It was a pretty quick hike down and back up, over a very nice, scenic trail, and we popped up onto Waumbek. A couple sat near a cairn that marked the top, eating lunch. We talked a bit, me and Gretel noshed on some snacks, and we got going, back the way we came. Gretel tore around in the woods, happily meeting me back at the path at regular intervals. We passed the old well again and soon emerged into the parking lot, 7.2 miles under our belt. Waumbek is a nice, relatively easy mountain, it would make a nice day hike, though it's pretty far north, and takes a good long while to get to from Boston.
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| Gretel explores Mt. Starr King |
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| Waumbek summit |
The plan was to hike Cabot the next day, so Gretel and I drove up toward Gorham and ducked into the Moose Brook campsite, to find a place to pitch the tent. The weather was still grey but rain had held off. I paid for a remote site and some firewood, and we drove up and around. It was nice, though some kind of logging or construction machinery - not exactly sure - was making a hell of a racket nearby. I pitched the tent and started working on a fire. It took a while - dry tinder was hard to find - but I persisted, and with the help of some birch bark and a lot of newspaper, I eventually got it going. I cooked some noodles while Gretel tore around in the woods. The sun began to disappear and I sat by the fire for awhile before turning in. It got cold in the night but my bag and the dog kept me warm, and I slept well.
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| on the Starr King Trail |
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In the morning, Gretel and I awoke to rain. I packed up the tent - never fun in the rain - and we headed into Gorham, and turned toward Belin. The rain was picking up, and it was cold. So, I decided to wait on Cabot. I probably should have sucked it up - being so close - but we turned around and went home. Next time... the mountain's not going anywhere anytime soon.
We soon passed the remains of what looked like an old well, and climbed steadily for a couple of miles. The trail was wide and easy to follow, with good footing, and climbed steadily and moderately as it circled up the mountain, and we soon came upon the summit of Mt. Starr King (The mountain is named after Thomas Starr King an orator and politician in California during the Civil War) An old stone chimney - all that remains of a cabin that used to stand here - stood in a clearing, surrounded by evergreens. Usually this summit offers some pretty nice views, apparently, but not on a grey day like this - also, apparently, the trees have grown up in the last few years. Gretel scoped out the chimney ruins, and we found a little sign that read "PATH" on the other side of the clearing, leading the way down into the col between Starr King and Waumbek. It was a pretty quick hike down and back up, over a very nice, scenic trail, and we popped up onto Waumbek. A couple sat near a cairn that marked the top, eating lunch. We talked a bit, me and Gretel noshed on some snacks, and we got going, back the way we came. Gretel tore around in the woods, happily meeting me back at the path at regular intervals. We passed the old well again and soon emerged into the parking lot, 7.2 miles under our belt. Waumbek is a nice, relatively easy mountain, it would make a nice day hike, though it's pretty far north, and takes a good long while to get to from Boston.
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