Mount Cabot

Trail: Unknown Pond (northern), Kilkenny Ridge

Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“A very nice alternative to the out and back route via Bunnell Notch. Beautiful woods walk up to Unknown Pond. Great views from the Horn except for clouds enveloping the Presidentials. The easiest way to summit the rock at the Horn appears to be to curve west and then north before heading back south to the summit. There are many herd paths in the vicinity; keeping on the tread way to ascender’s left seems to be the best choice if in doubt where to go. Continued to Cabin before turning around; views there are getting more limited.”

Trail: Mill Brook Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Unknown Pond Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“Two of us did a 2 night backpack hike in the Mt.Cabot area. Arrived at the Mill Brook trailhead in the afternoon. Took a look at the fish hatchery before heading up trail. There were thousands of baby trout. About 3/4's of the way up where the trail levels out had a strong smell of manure. Smelt like there was a dairy farm nearby. No idea were the smell originated from. Made it to the Unknown Pond camp site by 6PM. We were the only ones there for the night. The quiet there was deafening. The campsite is one of the largest I have seen. There are 5 designated sites. There are two fire pits and outhouse and bear box. Water source is the pond on the opposite side of camp entrance. On Day 2 we did a day loop hike. On our hike over to Cabot, met a woman who was doing a southbound trek on the Cohos trail. She said she started at the Canadian border days earlier. Had a nice talk with her. Hit the summit at Cabot and had lunch on the cabin porch. On the way down Cabot met about 7 various hikers on their way up to the summit. As we got to the lower flatter portion of the Bullnell Notch trail thought of bushwhacking over to the Unknown Pond trail via an old logging train trail that was on the Gaia app map so as to save some mileage. As we started the bushwhack to locate the old train trail the area was pretty wet so we aborted that mission and just stuck to that trail. Once on the Unknown Trail it took us less than 2 hours to get back to camp. My partner kept a quick pace on the trail. I was pretty spent the time got into camp. After a nice meal, I used some left over hot water and had a nice sponge bath. It is was refreshing. That night some hikers came in and stayed at the lower campsite. A rain shower and a T-storms came by early that night. Just after midnight while relieving myself I looked up through the trees and noticed the sky were clear of clouds and full of stars. There was a nice cool north breeze the was blowing that made for good sleeping weather. That morning we were up by 4:30 and on the trail by 5:30 by headlamp. About a mile before the end of Unknown Pond trail we saw several deer running into the bush. That was the first time I ever saw deer while hiking the Whites over all these years. Finally got back to the trailhead by 8A after a 2 mile roadwork on the last portion.”

Trail: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“Cabot is enjoyable to me. Some minor mud spots considering what it can be. All of the flat areas that tend to hold water and turn muddy around the trail junction at 3,000 feet were dry. Some minor spots of wet trail on descent around 3,400-3,500 feet. All in all, another beautiful day to be outside.”