Home States  Connecticut  Maine  Massachusetts  New Hampshire  New York  Rhode Island  Vermont  View All Lists  NE 4,000 Footers  NE 100 Highest  NH 4,000 Footers  NH 52 With A View  NH Belknap Range  NH Ossipee 10 Explanation of Ratings Links Ossipee Mountains Notice Search Trail Conditions Trip Log About	Baldpate Mountain - West Peak, Baldpate Mountain - East Peak Grafton, ME Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below. Looking up the Appalachian Trail on the way to West Baldpate Route: Appalachian Trail The final Maine peak of the weekend was Baldpate Mountain. Starting at the hiker parking area, I walked up Route 26 for a minute or so, then started on the Appalachian Trail on a series of bogwalks. The climb to the first ridge was fairly gradual with decent footing. From there to the campsite, however, things dragged as the trail worked its way around a subpeak, gradually losing elevation. Shortly after passing the campsite, the trail picked up in steepness, eventually becoming very steep and rough prior to reaching the top of West Baldpate. Just to the north, volunteers were working on building a sizable reroute of the trail, expected to be open in the next year or two. While there were no views from the highpoint, there were superb directional views from the ledges just past it. After perhaps having some bad food at a gas station on the way to Grafton Notch, I wasn't feeling that well and was thus toying with calling it a day. Nonetheless, I continued on for the scenic ledge-dominated walk to East Baldpate, complete with two ladders and a few scrambles. The views from around the flat East Baldpate summit were superb. While it was tempting to spend some time here, I was ready to head home. The trail seemed to drag on forever on the return trip, especially the long, slight uphill portion of the trail from the campsite to the height of land. Hike Ratings Getting To Trailhead: Easy Destination: Baldpate Mountain - West Peak Length: Moderate Steepness: Difficult Navigation: Easy Views: Excellent Crowds: Moderate Destination: Baldpate Mountain - East Peak Length: Moderate Steepness: Very Difficult Navigation: Easy Views: Excellent Crowds: Minimal Hike Stats Date Hiked: Sunday, July 18, 2010 Hike Commenced: 1:17 PM Parking Elevation: 1,496' Destination: Baldpate Mountain - West Peak Ascent Commenced: 1:18 PM Summit Reached: 2:59 PM Time Elapsed: 01:41 Trailhead Elevation: 1,500' Summit Elevation: 3,662' Distance: 2.9 miles Vertical Gain: 2,482' Destination: Baldpate Mountain - East Peak Ascent Commenced: 3:04 PM Summit Reached: 3:37 AM Time Elapsed: 00:33 Trailhead Elevation: 3,662' Summit Elevation: 3,780' Distance: 0.9 mile Vertical Gain: 380' Hike Ended: 6:05 PM Hike Time Elapsed: 04:47 Hike Distance: 7.6 miles Hike Vertical Gain: 3,448' The Appalachian Trail trailhead Looking at East Baldpate from the West Baldpate ledges The Appalachian Trail between the peaks Looking northeast from East Baldpate Directions to trailhead: Take US 2 East to Route 26 North into Grafton Notch. The hiker parking area is just below The Eyebrow. The Appalachian Trail departs northbound across Route 26. There may be a parking fee. Back to Saddleback Mountain Profile Back to Saddleback Mountain - The Horn Profile
	Copyright 2002-2012, All Rights Reserved. www.FranklinSites.com