View Full Version : Stratton. ME blue blaze trail question
I am planning a section hike this August with my 15 year old daughter. Currently, I'm thinking about hiking from Stratton, ME to Monson. That was one of my favorite sections in 2000, and the terrain is not all that tough once you get past the Bigelows. My daughter wants to fish some, so I can't think of a better stretch for that activity. Plus, the area is loaded with loons, moose & blueberries.
There is a blue blaze trail that leaves Stratton and intersects the AT just south of Horns Pond Lean-tos. Has anyone hiked this trail? I would prefer to walk in & out of town on trail, and would be interested to know how scenic and diffcult this trail is.
Similarly, is there a side trail from the AT into Monson? I could have sworn that there was based upon my memory from my 2000 hike, but the map doesn't show one.
I'd also be interested to hear about any other nice blue blaze trails in this area.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Little Bear
Lone Wolf
02-10-2005, 11:40
There is a side trail into Monson. It's actually a 2 mile road walk. It's the old AT route and is blue-blazed. Look for the Shaw's sign about 3 miles before Maine hwy. 15
There is a side trail into Monson. It's actually a 2 mile road walk. It's the old AT route and is blue-blazed. Look for the Shaw's sign about 3 miles before Maine hwy. 15
Thanks LW. Have you ever hiked the blue blaze out of Stratton? I think it goes over Cranberry Mtn.
Lone Wolf
02-10-2005, 11:45
No I haven't. Go figure. But from what I've heard it's not so difficult.
walkin' wally
02-10-2005, 12:03
If your daughter wants to fish for brook trout I would suggest Bald Mt stream or the Piscataquis river above and along Horseshoe Canyon. The Pierce Pond stream area can be good too. The Horns Pond has trout but is Fly Fishing only. Above beaver dams can be good sometimes if the dam is fairly new. If she isn't fussy about what she fishes for then most of the streams or brooks should have some fish. The ponds along the way have trout in them too but the trout tend to stay near the colder areas during the day and will come out in the morning and evening to take insects, so fly fishing works well. She will need a Maine fishing license.
Hope this helps :sun
If your daughter wants to fish for brook trout I would suggest Bald Mt stream or the Piscataquis river above and along Horseshoe Canyon. The Pierce Pond stream area can be good too. The Horns Pond has trout but is Fly Fishing only. Above beaver dams can be good sometimes if the dam is fairly new. If she isn't fussy about what she fishes for then most of the streams or brooks should have some fish. The ponds along the way have trout in them too but the trout tend to stay near the colder areas during the day and will come out in the morning and evening to take insects, so fly fishing works well. She will need a Maine fishing license.
Hope this helps :sun
Thanks Wally. I'll be carrying a flyrod and she'll probably carry a small spinning outfit. We'll both have licenses - hopefully a 7-day non-resident deal.
I appreciate the heads up.
The blue blaze out of Stratton is a great Trail-- its been 2 or three years since I've been on it, but I am seeing (???) moss dripping from the trees in that section.
Working from memory (not maps), I would say that you might find that Trail more enjoyable than say the Firewarden's Trail (which I think is the AT, Not sure). My memory tells me that one goes more direct straight up a rocky path-- one of those erroded trails that are so much "Fun" when its raining.
My Bottom line is that you could not take a better route up to Horns Pond and the Biggalows.
YMMV, my memory isn't perfect.
Rick B
Again, no map-- but I think that trail blue blaze might skirt a nice little pond on the way up. If it does, its a good one and worthy of a cast.
My Bottom line is that you could not take a better route up to Horns Pond and the Biggalows.
YMMV, my memory isn't perfect.
Rick B
Great - just the sort of feedback I was looking for. I'll be sure to provide a trip report. My daughter is going to be taking the photos. Maybe she'll post a few on WB when we're done.
The Old Fhart
02-10-2005, 13:46
The Fire Warden’s trail (4.6mi.) goes from the Stratton Brook Pond Road to the Avery/West Peak Col and is not the A.T. The A.T. is 5.3mi. from RT-27 to Horns Pond. I have done the Fire Warden’s trail in summer and in February and it has a very steep section near the top. If you got water from the spring near the Avery Memorial campsite on the side trail, you were on the upper end of the Fire Warden’s Trail. The Horns Pond Trail (2.4mi.) isn’t too bad and goes from the ponds to join the Fire Warden’s Trail 2.3mi. from its parking lot.
Both the Appalachian Trail Guide to Maine and the AMC Maine guides will have a description of the trails and show their location on the maps. If you are going to be taking the Bigelow Range Trail (6.6mi.) to Horns Pond, the AMC guide would have a better description, where this trail is a side trail off the A.T. Just go to your local library and photocopy the trail description from the AMC guide and use your A.T. #5 Maine map.
Lone Wolf
02-10-2005, 13:48
I'm looking at the map for that section and you do pass Cranberry Pond about 1/2 mile before the AT junction.
walkin' wally
02-10-2005, 20:05
The Maine ATC has done a lot of work over the last few seasons putting rock steps on the Firewarden's trail to help stabilize the erosion there. It is the most direct route to Avery Col.
Bennedict arnold and Appalachian Trail
Sorry about that, I thought I was typing in google. For some reason I associate his portage with the blue blaze in my mind. Not sure if there was a marker on the Trail, a notation in a guide book, or what.
The idea of lugging canon through Maine is something that I find so incomprehensible, it interests me. Might be worth looking up.
Tramper Al
02-10-2005, 21:42
The Arnold-led expedition of 1779, the invasion of Canada, took a course through this area. They took their bateaux up the Kennebec to the Great Carrying Place, across the Carry Ponds (the toughest part of the whole trip) and into the Dead River (which is now really dead 'cause it's Flagstaff Lake). Bigelow was a Major in Arnold's command who climbed to the top of the range now bearing his name. The purpose of this bushwhack was to determine if Quebec (the object of the invasion) could be seen. It could not.
Nightwalker
02-10-2005, 22:14
There is a side trail into Monson. It's actually a 2 mile road walk. It's the old AT route and is blue-blazed. Look for the Shaw's sign about 3 miles before Maine hwy. 15
Hey Wolf!
Do you have a list of a lot of good blue blaze/ex-white-blaze/whatever trails?
Stuff like the trail that you took back into the NOC at the Soruck. And hey, wasn't that a great time. :-)
Do you remember the trailname of the guy with the sideburns that almost touched underneath? Used a golite pack? Might have hiked in?
Frank/Nightwalker
Here are pictures from my 1981 Maine Mountain trip. pictures 22-30 are of the Bigelow Range Trail (http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=showMyPhoto&albumID=242218985&photoID=249406553&security=qnyjlR) We hiked the Bigelow Range Trail from Stratton to Avery Peak and down the Firewarden Trail. Great hike. As far as the rest of your trip to Monson you might want to look at my trip report. It was a slackpacking trip from north to south along the AT. It is imbedded in my thread (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6104). You might find some links and logisitical information worthwhile in the trip report. E-mail me if you have any questions as to why I did what I did.
Tim Rich
02-22-2005, 15:30
I am planning a section hike this August with my 15 year old daughter. Currently, I'm thinking about hiking from Stratton, ME to Monson. That was one of my favorite sections in 2000, and the terrain is not all that tough once you get past the Bigelows. My daughter wants to fish some, so I can't think of a better stretch for that activity. Plus, the area is loaded with loons, moose & blueberries.
There is a blue blaze trail that leaves Stratton and intersects the AT just south of Horns Pond Lean-tos. Has anyone hiked this trail? I would prefer to walk in & out of town on trail, and would be interested to know how scenic and diffcult this trail is.
Similarly, is there a side trail from the AT into Monson? I could have sworn that there was based upon my memory from my 2000 hike, but the map doesn't show one.
I'd also be interested to hear about any other nice blue blaze trails in this area.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Little Bear
We hiked the blue blaze out of Stratton last year. Walking out of town, the trail is to the left on a side road right next to a diner, and the road is going out to a sawmill/wood products facility. The trail works around a fence to the right, leaving the road, and crisscrosses a couple of woods roads before seeking the ridge. The climb up to Cranberry is no more taxing than any of the other summits along that section, and it has an exposed summit with great views of the lake. You skirt Cranberry Pond just before catching the AT. If I remember, there was a sign at the pond warning of Giardia, or something else, I can't remember for sure. Anyone else remember that?
You've chosen a great section to enjoy with your daughter. Hope you have a great hike. By the way, Maine fishing licenses for 15 year old nonresidents are $10.
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/licreg/fishing.htm
Take Care,
Tim
You've chosen a great section to enjoy with your daughter. Hope you have a great hike. By the way, Maine fishing licenses for 15 year old nonresidents are $10.
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/licreg/fishing.htm
Take Care,
Tim
Thanks Aaron & Tim. Very helpful advice!
Jack Tarlin
02-22-2005, 16:15
Mowgli:
There's a short blue blaze from Steve Longley's place (.9 from the Trail crosing in Caratunk) that leads back to the A.T.
You'll probably want to stop in here in any case for resupplies.
Steve knows that area as well as anyone alive and may be able to help you with some ideas for an alternate route between Caratunk and Monson.
tlbj6142
02-22-2005, 16:17
The climb up to Cranberry is no more taxing than any of the other summits along that sectionI ran into a large group of high-school (?) students out of a dayhike loop which included AT NOBO from the previous road crossing (RT27) and, then taking this trail back into Stratton. If a group of whinny (I spoke with them for 10+ minutes where the AT/Bigelow trail split) HS students can do you, you can.
You can always make a short day of it and stay at horns pond Lean-to for the first night.
Mowgli:
There's a short blue blaze from Steve Longley's place (.9 from the Trail crosing in Caratunk) that leads back to the A.T.
You'll probably want to stop in here in any case for resupplies.
Steve knows that area as well as anyone alive and may be able to help you with some ideas for an alternate route between Caratunk and Monson.
Thanks Jack. I have promised my daughter a day off in Caratunk, so if Steve is taking in hikers, perhaps we'll stay with him. Maybe we'll do a day of rafting on the Kennebec on our day off.
TJ aka Teej
02-22-2005, 17:12
The idea of lugging canon through Maine is something that I find so incomprehensible, it interests me. Might be worth looking up.
Kenneth Roberts wrote two books, Arundel and March to Quebec, about the Arnold Expedition. The first is a wonderful novel any fan of O'Brian will relish, and the second is a compilation of member's own journals and accounts with Roberts giving commentary. Three of my relations went to Quebec with Arnold, one came back. Tradition has it that the landing opposite Caratunk is where they left the Kennebec.