According to the book "Roadside Geology of Maine", by D.W. Caldwell, an investigation of unstable supports on the ski gondola revealed permafrost (permanently frozen ground). Permafrost occurs in climates where the mean annual temperature is below freezing.
I hiked Sugarloaf recently (3/8/14), and wanted to point out that the sign at the intersection of the A.T. and the Sugarloaf side trail indicates different mileages from what's listed above.
I probably should have taken a picture, but what I recall from memory is this:
.5 miles to Sugarloaf summit
X.4 miles to CVR (where X has been scratched out. the numbers 2 and 3 have both been scratched in above X)
5.0 miles to Crocker
9.9 miles to route 27
I'm inclined to believe 2.4 miles is the more accurate measurement for the distance to CVR, but this is based entirely on my hiking time and subjective "feel" for the trail length. I have a hard time swallowing the 1.9 measurement, given 2 hours of hustling through the snow with minimal rest.
Thanks too from me. The 1.9 mile distance to the junction is consistent with my Maine Appalachian Trail guide, which unfortunately is even more dated than Catamount's reference. Much of the trail in Maine has been re-routed since the 1980s when I explored the area. It certainly could have been re-routed to add an extra half mile.
technicolorNH - Jun 10, 2016 12:38 am - Hasn't voted
Access from the CVR
The Caribou Valley Road is now gated one half mile from the Appalachian Trail crossing. The metal grate bridge just beyond it has decayed enough that the owners of the road have decided to bar entry beyond it although be aware that at least one wooden bridge on the way in was looking pretty rough as well. Still passable as of this writing but as Nartreb said on the Spaulding page, check the bridges on foot BEFORE crossing them, particularly if it has been some time since I wrote this comment. There is a parking area off to the side just before the gate sufficient for seven vehicles at least, with enough space to park on the road in many places. Someone installed a board bridge at the stream crossing, which makes the initial water crossing much easier. Someone also installed a mileage sign on the AT at the junction to the side trail to the summit of Sugarloaf that indicates that the mileage was 2.3 miles north to the CVR, 4.4 miles to South Crocker, 5.4 miles to North Crocker, and 10.6 miles to Maine Highway 27. From that intersection a separate sign says it is 2.1 miles south to Spaulding Mountain.
injektilo - Apr 10, 2006 3:38 pm - Voted 10/10
PermafrostAccording to the book "Roadside Geology of Maine", by D.W. Caldwell, an investigation of unstable supports on the ski gondola revealed permafrost (permanently frozen ground). Permafrost occurs in climates where the mean annual temperature is below freezing.
revkon - Mar 12, 2014 2:04 pm - Hasn't voted
Trail mileage discrepancy?I hiked Sugarloaf recently (3/8/14), and wanted to point out that the sign at the intersection of the A.T. and the Sugarloaf side trail indicates different mileages from what's listed above.
I probably should have taken a picture, but what I recall from memory is this:
.5 miles to Sugarloaf summit
X.4 miles to CVR (where X has been scratched out. the numbers 2 and 3 have both been scratched in above X)
5.0 miles to Crocker
9.9 miles to route 27
I'm inclined to believe 2.4 miles is the more accurate measurement for the distance to CVR, but this is based entirely on my hiking time and subjective "feel" for the trail length. I have a hard time swallowing the 1.9 measurement, given 2 hours of hustling through the snow with minimal rest.
Bark Eater - Mar 15, 2014 1:35 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Trail mileage discrepancy?Thanks too from me. The 1.9 mile distance to the junction is consistent with my Maine Appalachian Trail guide, which unfortunately is even more dated than Catamount's reference. Much of the trail in Maine has been re-routed since the 1980s when I explored the area. It certainly could have been re-routed to add an extra half mile.
dcherry - Oct 19, 2015 1:36 pm - Hasn't voted
Update on Geraldine LargaySad news, but it appears that they have found her remains.
http://bangordailynews.com/2015/10/16/news/state/bittersweet-day-as-missing-at-hiker-geraldine-largays-remains-believed-to-be-found-in-western-maine/
Bark Eater - Oct 21, 2015 2:12 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Update on Geraldine LargayThanks for letting us know.
technicolorNH - Jun 10, 2016 12:38 am - Hasn't voted
Access from the CVRThe Caribou Valley Road is now gated one half mile from the Appalachian Trail crossing. The metal grate bridge just beyond it has decayed enough that the owners of the road have decided to bar entry beyond it although be aware that at least one wooden bridge on the way in was looking pretty rough as well. Still passable as of this writing but as Nartreb said on the Spaulding page, check the bridges on foot BEFORE crossing them, particularly if it has been some time since I wrote this comment. There is a parking area off to the side just before the gate sufficient for seven vehicles at least, with enough space to park on the road in many places. Someone installed a board bridge at the stream crossing, which makes the initial water crossing much easier. Someone also installed a mileage sign on the AT at the junction to the side trail to the summit of Sugarloaf that indicates that the mileage was 2.3 miles north to the CVR, 4.4 miles to South Crocker, 5.4 miles to North Crocker, and 10.6 miles to Maine Highway 27. From that intersection a separate sign says it is 2.1 miles south to Spaulding Mountain.
Bark Eater - Jun 15, 2016 2:36 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Access from the CVRThanks. I updated the page with your comments.