The Horn

Trail: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, Bunnell Notch Trail, York Pond Trail

Conditions: Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches

“Did the Cabot Loop counterclockwise, taking Unknown Pond Trail to Kilkenny Ridge Trail to Bunnel Notch Trail. Trail was mostly free from snow until Unknown Pond. Upon looping around the Pond, the trails snow set in and stayed well past the Cabot Hut. Used micros, the snow was hard and rough, like a snow bank that has thawed and refrozen over and over. The hike to the horn was challenging because it was hard to stay on trail. There were next to no foot prints in the snow to follow. Also going up to Cabot was a challenge staying on course. Very remote wilderness, saw tons of moose poo during the first half of the hike, and also saw two moose on my way down Bunnel Notch. Very large and very cool to see. They wanted nothing to do with me and meandered into the woods. Mono rail has formed and is falling apart in some spots, but is still packed enough to walk on without post holing. Checking out the fish hatchery was interesting.”

Trail: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, Bunnell Notch Trail, York Pond Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable)

“Did a counter clockwise loop to get some hundred highest to end the winter. Trail conditions were excellent all around and everywhere. The recent rain/thaw and subsequent freeze made literally everything rock solid. Spikes all the way today. Even stepping off trail was fine with the hard frozen snow being strong enough to support your weight. The only downside to this was you could easily wander off trail since there was no demarcation between solid and unpacked snow. Unknown pond trail was mostly easy to follow but there are almost no blazes at all so you need to pay a little attention to where you're going. After the pond on Kilkenny Ridge the trail had more blazes but we lost it a few times heading up to the Bulge. At this point, due to the fact that we could literally walk anywhere and not sink, we just aimed for the highest point and went straight for it. This tactic was also useful on the approach to Cabot. The trail on the descent was more well defined and had a slightly elevated, but stable monorail coming off Cabot. Couldn't have asked for better trail conditions today, but this will change once it starts to thaw again.”

Trail: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, bushwhack

Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow

“A FINE day in the forest was had. The Midget Mafia got back together from our collective anarchy spreading across the north east to help Steve finish out his NE100W. Let me ask you, the reader, do you have one really odd family member that you'd secretly find joy in never seeing or hearing from again? Let me tell you, I found the trail form of that person in Unknown Pond. If you have mental problems and enjoy side hilling and route finding for 3.2 miles, you're probably in a psychiatric ward and not reading this anyways so I am not offending anyone. We donned snowshoes to start, following someone likely for a nice walk through the open hardwoods along the abandoned Upper Ammonosuc Railroad. There was a general 4-6 inches of fresh new snow atop what felt like concrete. While route finding was generally intuitive, there are large portions where we simply followed moose tracks as they generally went in the direction we needed. They live there, they know better than we do. The sidehilling got old after the first few miles, it made for a much tougher day on what would otherwise be a very gentle gradual trek to the pond. Kilkenny Ridge had more blazes in the first 100 feet than the preceding 3.2 miles. We where able to generally follow the trail, however we opted for more of a direct route in switchback areas simply because its less time/effort. The sidehill again greeted us on the eastern side of The Horn, which was a nice treat as I felt lost without having to do it for once. We went to the Bulge first, of which we made short work of and finished atop the Horn. We bushwhacked off the Horn utilizing the ridge crest to the North, with the exception of the immediate drop off of the summit the woods where fantastic moving, especially in magic shoes and deep powder - of which there is easily still 4'+ at 3500'. Pizza, NA beer, whoopie pies, cupcakes, and for the health conscious, slicked peppers and tzatziki sauce.”