Maine
I went Nordic skiing on the most unique trail in Maine
When the Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society winter outings schedule was deliberate final October, I volunteered to coordinate a Nordic ski journey at a location to be decided on Jan. 15. On the time, it appeared affordable to anticipate there could be a number of choices to select from. Not this winter. Acceptable snow for Nordic snowboarding has been extraordinarily scarce and primarily non-existent within the foothills and coastal plain.
Because the deadline approached, I nonetheless hadn’t decided as high quality decisions south of Aroostook County had been restricted. A number of years had handed since I’d skied the Slender Gauge Pathway in Carrabassett Valley, in order that choice appeared price exploring. I depend on my buddy, Brent Elwell, for all issues Carrabassett Valley. A name to him a few days previous to the scheduled journey resulted in hopeful data as he’d been snowboarding within the valley recurrently and extra snow was forecast for that night time. He volunteered to test Slender Gauge path circumstances the next morning.
Brent provided nice information: The Slender Gauge was groomed and ultimate for snowboarding. Chowderheads Jade and Sean Klutz had been elated together with his report and shortly signed on.
The Slender Gauge Pathway is without doubt one of the most unusual bike and ski trails in Maine. The historic path follows the previous Kingfield and Useless River Railroad mattress alongside the boulder-strewn Carrabassett River between the city of Carrabassett and the tiny village of Bigelow. A chapter in my ebook, “Maine Al Fresco: The Fifty Most interesting Outside Adventures in Maine,” narrates an distinctive bike journey on the trail.
The parking zone on the Airport Trailhead positioned on the proper off Route 27 a couple of mile north of the Carriage Highway in Carrabassett Valley was virtually full when the 4 of us arrived. The climate was sunny and surprisingly heat with a reasonable breeze. The parking space was a busy place as skiers, fats tire bikers, skijorers, snowshoers and canine walkers had been all getting ready for a trek.
We started by snowboarding a connector path throughout a groomed open subject north of the airstrip with a spectacular view of Bigelow Mountain within the distance. Traversing the William Munzer Leisure Bridge over the Carrabassett River, we arrived on the precise starting of the Slender Gauge Pathway.
Regardless of heavy visitors, the path was well-groomed and in good situation. The tracks had been in wonderful form for traditional snowboarding. Minor injury brought on by the numerous competing actions diminished the standard of the untracked sector, nevertheless it was nonetheless greater than sufficient for skate skiers.
We crossed a slim bridge over Houston Brook and traveled adjoining to the river whereas having fun with views of the difficult whitewater rapids we’d paddled throughout membership journeys up to now. Ascending step by step in a combined conifer and hardwood forest, visitors was busy in each instructions. Whereas by no means steep, the trail rose steadily for a lot of our ski to the northern terminus in Bigelow.
The well-formed tracks facilitated an environment friendly kick and glide as we skied uphill. The path turned away from the river and handed a Maine Huts Path junction on the proper. Skiers have the choice of following the trail to Stratton Brook Hut, nevertheless it turns into harder. We continued on the Slender Gauge.
The path rejoined the river the place a steep embankment overlooks a very precipitous part of the mountain freshet. Shortly after, we crossed a protracted bridge over an expanse of frozen wetlands and handed an outdated cabin constructed by railroad staff in 1900 that’s nonetheless in use. The gradient moderated as 4 Chowderheads arrived on the junction for Campbell Discipline Trailhead.
Following a soothing break at Campbell Discipline, we proceeded north previous one other Maine Huts Path junction that additionally gives entry to Stratton Brook Hut. Foregoing that choice, we quickly reached the outskirts of the outdated village of Bigelow the place the previous Bigelow Practice Depot is now a non-public residence. A brief spur left results in Stratton Brook Trailhead. We determined to start our return journey.
That’s when the enjoyable started in earnest. We loved an exhilarating descent on the quick hard-packed tracks, double poling a lot of the greater than 5 miles again to Airport Trailhead. A large number of skiers, snowshoers and bikers had been met on our return. Slender Gauge Pathway needs to be probably the most well-liked multi-use winter trails in Maine.
It’s snowing as I write. Snowboarding choices will quickly be plentiful!