“…..At 11.72 m. white-blazed Arnold Trail comes in on right. This is alternative route, also marked by white paint blazes, which continue east over Little Bigelow and Roundtop Mtns., past West, Middle, and East Carry Ponds, then turns north, joining the Dead River Route at Pierce Pond. See Chapter, THE ARNOLD TRAIL.
At 12.18 m., in log yard, tractor road comes into gravel road. Follow this road, descending. At 12.33 m. road comes in on right; lumber camps 200 ft. to right. At 12.96 m. take left fork, leaving better worn road to right. At 13.03 m. bear right, leaving dirt road, into trail across field, following telephone poles.
At 13.18 m. (1,149 ft.) turn right on Me. Highway 16. At 13.38 m. pass Dead River Schoolhouse on left (north). Pass, on left at 14.26 m., residence of Bert Witham (accommodations available here). Reach Dead River Post Office at 14.58 m. (Accommodations are also available at Ledge House, Dead River, Arnold Trail.)
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Arnold Trail(northbound from Avery Peak) …..From junction with Dead River Route, in stand of mature spruce (0 m.), follow white-blazed trail east. Cross at .25 m., deeply gullied stream, branch of Safford Brook. Ascend steeply through hardwoods, bearing right up north slope of ridge. At .8 m., ledge affords view north; crest of ridge is to right at slightly higher elevation. Beyond, Trail Ascends gradually, slabbing north crest of ridge. Reach crest at app. 1.7 m.; continue east along crest. Ledges at 1.97 m. and 2.1 m. afford views north. (Former ledge bears mark “3” m.” to Ledge House.) Beyond, at 2.45 m., Trail leads along top of cliff, sheer southern slope of ridge. (Backward views of Mt. Bigelow are striking here.) Ascend slightly to ledge on crest of ridge at 2.6 m., with fine view south. Trail then descends very steeply for ¼ m. Cross old lumbered road in slight sag at 2.89 m. and descend steadily on trail.
At 3.23 m., in sag, turn left, uphill, on logging road. (To right 10 yds. Leads to fireplace, seats, and spring, 10 yds. Back of fireplace.) After 100 ft., on crest, turn right from road uphill on trail, ascending over ledge. At 3.5 m. cross summit, with striking backward view of the cone of East Peak of Mt. Bigelow and the crest of Little Bigelow Mtn. Descend steadily on trail. Beyond 4.2 m., spruce growth gives way to hardwoods. At 4.81 m., turn left on logging road for 100 ft., then turn right again from road onto trail, descending. Emerge from woods at 5.06 m. and cross field. Reach Me. Highway 15 at 5.1 m., at south end of clearing with Ledge House, with Forest Service campground on right. (Spring is in woods back of campground.)
Dead River Post Office is 1.9 m. north on Me. Highway 16.