Some of the best hiking in Maine can be found in the Bigelow Preserve. The terrain is diverse and the surrounding landscape offers a myriad of opportunities for outdoor activities. It is certainly a rugged hike but the payoff is worth it every single time. My last visit to this area was back in 2016 when I hiked from Stratton Village to the Northeastern section of Flagstaff Lake. The goal for this trip was to get in one last overnighter before the snow started to settle in. I think we just made it.
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Last minute gear check before heading up the Fire Wardens Trail. Pat’s rocking the blaze orange…
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First sign of snow as we near the junction of West Peak and Avery Peak.
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It’s amazing how quickly the conditions change in only a few hundred feet of elevation gain.
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View from the summit of Avery Peak looking back across West Peak, our next summit.
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…and the view from West Peak looking back across Avery Peak with Little Bigelow in the far distance.
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Soaking up the last bit of fall foliage before it all turns white.
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Horn Pond. Just below the pond you can see the lean-to’s we are staying at for the night.
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Pat bundling up before settling in for a very cold night.
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We awoke the next morning to catch a fleeting sunrise. The plan was to hike out early to avoid the pending rain storm that was approaching from the west.
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Navigating an area of blow-down on the Horns Pond Trail. I commended the the trail crew that cleaned this up, the amount of trees that were cleared and cut is staggering.