Where do I start? I’ve run 38 kilometers (almost 24 miles) and am just barely past the halfway point of the Flagstaff Loop Trail. I tell both my heart and head to calm down and, in that moment, decide one thing for sure. Log in or register to post comments; Athletes. Joining me was my good friend Ryan. After some debate, we decided to take the slower, but more scenic route across New Hampshire and then south through Vermont. Multiple blow downs that are easy to navigate around. The Grafton Notch Loop is one of those routes that's been on my radar for quite some time but never seemed to slot well into my schedule. What Is An FKT & How Can You Get Started? FKT Report: The Grafton Notch Loop in Maine by Ben Nephew. All of the campsites appear to have bearboxes, outhouses and usable water sources. Menu Find A Route; Contact Us In 2014, Adam Wilcox and Ryan Welts discovered the loop and created the official route that appears on the FKT site. (Side note: To spice up this loop, use the Pfiffner Traverse to connect Buchanan and Cascade Creeks, rather than the all-trail route around the west side of Thunderbolt Peak. Neil Clauson. Two sections on the Grafton Trail (in particular) were “jungle-like” with so much overgrowth that you couldn’t see the trail or your feet. Sunday River Whitecap Mt. Episode 91. Debbie has now done about 11 of the 16 listed trails, though many of her runs predate the window for this particular competition. Grafton Notch Loop (ME) Route variation. We just wanted to do it before sunset. "-The Maine Appalachian Trail Guide. Blog at WordPress.com. In June I attempted to break Tom Flummerfelt's 17:44 and was ahead of schedule until about the 47 mile point when early season heat got to me. Bull Run Campsite to Old Speck Mt 1.6 mi The MapShare site shows the progress of someone tracking with an inReach satellite communicator. Aug 1, … The Grafton Loop Trail (GTL) is located on both sides of Route 26 and links with the AT on Baldpate Mountain and on Old Speck. We spent the night there after making dinner, which mostly consisted of Maine-made GOOD TO-GO dehydrated food. Now that we have experienced both routes in both directions, we believe that the route they chose is the faster version. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878368520 The Appalachian Trail section gets more traffic and more maintenance so it was was easier to traverse. 3.5″ of rain and snow expected for Wed-Thu. Great Western Loop Gear List; Ultralight Satire; Speaking. For sanity and safety reasons, I decided to not head out again. Hiking the Arizona Trail – An Overview. Our trip brought back great memories from 2008. All Posts Advice AT Bloggers CDT Bloggers Featured Gear Inspiration News PCT Bloggers Podcasts Thru-Hiking Culture Trail Profile. We only saw a handful of backpackers doing the entire loop. The loop was inspired by a run Ethan K. had done here years ago. You can even reply. We made a pitstop in Chatham to visit our longtime friends Ann and Rich Fargo. Podcasts . For this reason, designated campsites are mandatory for most of the loop’s route, along with a restriction on campfires. Resources . My GPS track is here: www.strava.com/activities/162689737/overview
Debbie, Matt, and I enjoyed the run/hike despite it being a damp and humid day with limited views. 26. My Trail Story - Jeff Garmire Sets the Fastest Known Time ... A Real Adventure: Sorting Out All the F.K.T… The 2008 trip was one of our classic adventures, and I wrote about it a the time. Change ). Person-Person. 2020 SRC FKT Challenge. Person-Person. The best part about this latest adventure is that we did it as a family. On the weekend and on the AT, it was a bit more busy. The Loowit Trail is used for the course of the Volcanic 50K race, which has produced the fastest times. Articles . Somewhat lucid thoughts about a fast paced life. Day 1: Rt. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! We had a fantastic “swim” frolicking in the chilly waters. Laura Parson’s FKT Attempt of the Collegiate Trail Loop. I had heard a rumor of a possible 10:30 time but no one I've talked to can remember where they heard that, who did it, or when it might have happened. Appalachian Mountain Club had just finished new sections of trail during the prior summer in 2007, https://www.strava.com/activities/3870759583, https://www.strava.com/activities/3873658635, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878368520, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878370921, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878371495, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878372815, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878374720, https://www.strava.com/activities/3879624057, Connecticut Business & Industry Association, Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series, Finch Brook Trail Loop & Scrooge Scramble (Bolton Edition), Flashback: 2007 Death Race/Pittsfield Peaks Ultra Challenge. We got a late start shortly after 8:00 A.M. and made the long descent to the northern end of the notch. There were more day hikers on Old Speck and the Eyebrow loop. Person-Person. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 26 and go counter-clockwise. It follows the Appalachian Trail between State Highway 4 and 27 and summits 8 of Maine's 14 four thousand foot peaks along the way. The Grafton Notch Loop is 39 mile trail that was completed in 2007. Father of the FKT – Buzz Burrell | besthike.com. FKT Verification | Fastest Known Time. Ultrarunner YiOu Wang recently set an FKT for the 40-mile stretch in the Sierra Nevada known as the Rae Lakes Loop. Approximately two-thirds of the trail’s length is on private lands with the remainder located on public lands managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. Fastpacking Routes. For yet others, racing it self-supported to achieve the Fastest Known Time, or FKT, became the quest. Looping around Flagstaff: A 45 mile FKT on the Flagstaff Loop Trail. Standard route. Email Subscription. Home Appalachian Trail AT Continental Divide Trail CDT Pacific Crest Trail PCT. Bean. We made a quick stop for food in Newry as we had to ration what was left on the final day. Close to the Sunday River ski area in western Maine near the New Hampshire border, it generally follows the mountain ridge lines that surround Grafton Notch and the Bear River Valley, passing over the summits of Old Speck, the Baldpates, and Sunday River White Cap. Fri, 07/31/2020 - 07:12am, Last weekend we returned to the Grafton Loop Trail for the first time in 12 years. Joe McConaughy FKT on the Long Trail - How He Broke the Mark. Speaking of critters, we saw a fair amount of wildlife on the trail. Route. Thanks to the AMC and the Grafton Loop Trail Coalition, 30 miles of new trails were built since 2002. Thanks so much for your awesome trip report. Male. Follow along online. Dinner was more dehydrated food and was followed by our best night of sleep. Backpacker Radio The Attempt Trail Correspondents . The Grafton Loop Trail, in the Mahoosucs Range of Western Maine, is one of the newest major trails to be built in New England. They chose to start at the southern road crossing parking lot on Rt. Sun, 10/07/2018 - 08:26pm, I lowered the time today (10/7/18) to 8:17. FKT Report: Swan Song Loop in New Hampshire by Ben Nephew. The Appalachian Mountain Club had just finished new sections of trail during the prior summer in 2007. That demonstrates how much has changed in a dozen years. Traversing the Bear River, Sunday River-Whitecap and Miles Notch, this part of the trail ends on the summit of Old Speck Mountain at its junction with the Mahoosuc Trail/AT. Lots of cobwebs encountered. Debbie, Shepard, and I wore Lone Peak Mid “light hikers” and Dahlia used a pair of kids lightweight boots from L.L. When planning our day, for … I had hiked many of the trails, which includes several of the hardest trails in the Northeast, and the idea of linking them up … We picked a lot of blueberries and lingered in the streams.Â, This past weekend we did much of the same, but each night, we slept well.Â, Report:Â https://scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/2020-grafton-loop-trail-family-adventure/Â, https://www.strava.com/activities/4178142418, I ran the loop in 10:25 this weekend and it was fun! As a refresher, the route is about 39 miles long. Yesterday I set a new FKT for the Pawnee-Buchanan Loop, in 4:46:32. Collegiate Trail Loop FKT. Everyone was in a sour mood by the time we got rolling back towards Connecticut. At 39 miles, the route is a long day for anyone and involves at least six hours driving for me. Sargent Mt Campsite to Sunday River Whitecap Mt 1.0 mi RSS Entries and RSS Comments. UPDATE 1: New double Wonderland Trail FKT: 82 hours 50 minutes (3d 10h 50m).Bad weather moved in a day earlier than anticipated and foiled the 3 rd loop. We were all hungry. This trip merely wet our appetite for more hiking. 26 and is quite ugly. Arizona Trail (AZT) Resupply Guide; Gear Reviews.
RSS Entries and RSS Comments. We pushed a little farther to the Slide Mountain Campsite where we stopped for the night. | Trail Hub ... Home | Fastest Known Time. He was doing trail work on the slopes of Old Speck and we had a fantastic conversation with him. This section includes three primitive campsites. The goal was to get down to the notch by 2:00 P.M. so that we could manage the drive home and have it not be too late. We weren’t aiming for a Fastest Known Time (FKT), but just by running the runable sections and pushing it on the steep sections, we were able to establish a time that was orders of magnitude quicker than backpacking it in two, three, or four days. We helped the kids continue to hone their mountain skills. The next year, Steve and Deb Pero et al also did the whole thing roughly 14-15 hours. Join 402 other followers Sign me up! All of our gear worked out great. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878374720 The trail took us over Lightning Ledge, East Baldpate, and West Baldpate. This was a big hike for them. 7100 ft The Loowit Trail circumnavigates Mt St Helens. On that day, we never intended to go fast. Everyone was tired when we reached the Town Corner Campsite. The more remote sections of trail were very quiet, especially on Thursday and Friday. Eyebrow Trail to Grafton Notch AT Parking 1.1 mi Sun, 04/26/2020 - 11:43am, I think Debbie and I were the first to do this loop in one shot. Resources . With our beloved AMC Huts closed for the year and New Hampshire trails seeing a surge of activity, we chose the “less-loved” Maine end of the White Mountains, and had an awesome time. I had an early workday on Monday. Over that time, we have been to the Sunday River region and Mahoosuc Range on a few occasions, including a family wedding in 2019, but it had been a while since we spent any time in Grafton Notch. Including a section of the Appalachian Trail, it provides a multi-day loop backpacking experience. Read messages they have sent to MapShare. The Grafton Loop Trail (GTL) is located on both sides of Route 26 and links with the AT on Baldpate Mountain and on Old Speck. Ben Nephew November 1, 2017 Fastest Known Time (FKT), Ben Nephew, Team, Maine. We used our Katadyn BeFrde water filter. The clock is still ticking as I slow to a shuffle and then to a walk on the side of Woody Mountain Road. This challenging trail traverses the peaks in the Mahoosuc Region above Grafton Notch and the Bear River Valley. Our son is very interested in trail crew, so it was neat to chat with Bill. It is mostly private land and also uses part of the AT. Back in 2008, she and I were joined by our friend Matt Schomburg when we became the first to complete the loop (new at the time) in one day. The Grafton loop doesn’t let you open up until you get out of the woods onto some ATV trails, when the markings then get a bit sketchy. After weeks of humidity, the cold front finally passed, and the day was dry and much cooler (high 70's) then the two training runs I had done out there the week before. Blog at WordPress.com. The trail overall is in good condition. This one scared me, literally and figuratively. The trail is a rugged, remote backcountry trail, and much of it is on private land. Backpacker Radio The Attempt Trail Correspondents . Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Style. The eastern half of the GLT consists of a 21-mile arc that leaves Route 26 in Newry, Maine, and returns to the road in Grafton Notch State Park via four miles on Appalachian Trail (AT). I don’t think Debbie and I need any more endurance training, at least not in 2020. Slide Mt Campsite to Bull Run Campsite 1.0 mi Single and Multi Day Trips. MAINE TRAIL FINDER MAP STRAVA DATA - WEST SIDE STRAVA DATA - EAST SIDE DFL Ultrarunning Podcast Interview w/ Adam Wilcox and Ryan Welts about their FKT run of this route in 2014 Description from Maine Trail Finder: The Grafton Loop Trail is a 38.6 mile, backcountry hiking experience in the Mahoosuc Mountains of Maine. Bio; Contact; Past Adventures. The Grafton Loop Trail is a new trail completed in 2007 that is designed to help take some of the pressure off the nearby section of the Appalachian Trail and the Speck Pond campsite which receive very heavy use. Seventeen miles were newly constructed trail in 2007, which traverse four mountain peaks and include five primitive campsites. The view from the top of the fire tower was spectacular and we earned it. The Appalachian Mountain Club maintains the trail west of Route 26, also including four designated campsites. We opted to try the counter-clockwise direction starting at the southern parking lot on Rt. This route is the most obvious way to get the most out of the trails by running the circumference around Grafton Lakes and Dunham Reservoir, linking the two via a short road section while moving between the two parks. That wasn’t the specific goal, but it seemed like something fun to do. We did bump into a fellow AMC volunteer by the name of Bill who we have met before. Read my route description.) Another hiker we ran into referred to a grouse as a “mountain chicken,” which is something I had never heard before. They were so kind to host us. The Mattabesett Trail is part of the 215 mile New England National Scenic Trail (NET). We got a good chuckle out of the concept. They come with practice. On Day 1, we drove from Connecticut and didn’t get on the trail until noon. and report is here:
adamiata.blogspot.com/2014/07/grafton-notch-loop.html
i have a partial track, but the early state Garmin I owned at the time died. Podcasts . We could hear a babbling brook beyond our campsite. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878370921 The SRK is a 75 mile loop, with around 14,000 ft of ascent but the main issue is just rough trails rather than ascents as it traverses Bog, Ragged, Kearsarge and Sunapee Mountains in its 75 mile loop. They also built their endurance. The AMC site has a good description: The Grafton Loop Trail (GTL) is located on both sides of Route 26 and links with the AT on Baldpate Mountain and on Old Speck. The eastern half of the GLT consists of a 21-mile arc that leaves Route 26 in Newry, Maine, and returns to the road in Grafton Notch State Park via four miles on Appalachian Trail (AT). Debbie and I should go back and do it again.Â, bikeandrun Glastenbury/West Ridge Loop FKT; Shenipsit Trail Duathlon; 2020 Grafton Loop Trail Family Adventure; Archives Archives. I decided to go unsupported, getting … About Me. I wish we had more time, but it was getting late. We hiked until nearly 8:00 P.M. tackling Puzzle Mountain and Long Mountain on the way. The Grafton Notch Loop is 39 mile trail that was completed in 2007. Slide was our favorite site. It's a 36 mile loop, 12-13,000 feet of ascent, going over Puzzle, Baldpate, Old Speck and Sunday River Whitecap Mountains. Learning how to deal with the elements, fend for yourself, and navigate are just a handful of tools needed to venture into the wild.  It was a beautiful day and I started up Puzzle Mountain and went counter clockwise. Day 2: 8.5 mi From Old Speck to the East Baldpate the loops runs concurrently with the Appalachian Trail while the remainder is newly constructed trail with periodic campsites, shelters, and water sources available. With side trips to viewpoints, waterfalls, water sources/streams, and campsites, you can’t really hike this loop without walking several extra miles. One neat thing, and probably due to the extreme heat, is that the wild blueberries were already ripe. It was a nice oasis and we will return! Deshaies actually ran his loop of the park two weeks before the FKT was made official and added to the database. âºï¸, www.strava.com/activities/162689737/overview, adamiata.blogspot.com/2014/07/grafton-notch-loop.html, http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/534/grafton-notch-loop-me, https://scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/grafton-loop-trail-oneâ¦. Here is the tracker link https://share.garmin.com/OWVU8, The Garmin watch seemed to upload weird so the track looks off but the track is visible on the tracker link. Articles . We think this worked out for the best. All Posts Advice AT Bloggers CDT Bloggers Featured Gear Inspiration News PCT Bloggers Podcasts Thru-Hiking Culture Trail Profile. Back then, we started at the state park at the northern end of the notch where the trail crosses Route 26, and went clockwise finishing with the ascent/descent of 4,170 foot Old Speck Mountain. After another quick stop in North Conway for take out pizza at Flatbread, we really got rolling. A little Googling beforehand showed that Scott and Deb Livingston with Matt Schomburg ran the whole route in 13:26 in 2008, shortly after the loop was completed. There was certainly a decent chance of getting off course here, and I was relieved to reach the road, and then I was confused. We ended the day a bit early but that was OK. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878372815 Jesse Wall and Carissa Winning covered the beastly Grafton Loop of 39 miles and 13,000 feet of gain in 11h 48m for the baseline mixed-gender team mark. Last weekend, Debbie and I returned to the Grafton Loop Trail for the first time in 12 years. "All AT hikers must manage this section of trail but few travel to all the high peaks along the way. Home | Fastest Known Time. The trail intersects other major trail systems and offers additional loop opportunities in Millers Pond State Park and Mica Ledges in Durham, the Rockland Preserve in Madison, Braemore Preserve in Guilford, and Giuffrida Park in Meriden. By the time we pulled into the garage, it was past 10:00 P.M. We were all cranky. Grafton Loop trail was constructed over a 6 yr period The entire 39-mile trail is a combo of private land and public. They loved the adventure. It’s going to take a lot of work to whip the trail back into shape. Fastest Known Times. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It connects an eight mile section of the Appalachian Trail with thirty miles of new trail, forming a loop hike in Grafton Notch that crosses Maine Rt 26 close to its half-way point. ( Log Out / The next site was miles away and we had all pushed hard enough. Bald Mt Campsite to Sargent Mt Campsite 3.4 mi He covered the distance in 17:30:36, which, considering the … Our effort was unsupported.Â, Our vintage trip report from blog: https://scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/grafton-loop-trail-oneâ¦Â, I'm pretty sure we inspired Ryan and Adam to tackle this route. We’ve been wanting to bring our kids on this loop and thanks to the cancellation of other summer plans, we finally made it happen. Both Laura and Debbie are signed up for the Connecticut FKT Challenge, which ranks this trail the third toughest in the state. I encountered almost no other people on the trail. We had our final dehydrated meal of the trip and made use of the bear box as extra precaution. This is the route that Adam and Ryan established. In any case, we left plenty of slack in our day and if this worthy route sees more attention I wouldn't be surprised to see some one better our time by ninety minutes, Neil Clauson Within the bird category, we saw several grouse. Episode 90. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. In a year with limited racing but plenty of fitness, former top road pro and now gravel racer Peter Stetina chose to focus on record attempts and FKT (fastest know times) as his competitive objective for this season and the legendary White Rim trail in Utah caught his attention when pro mountain biker Payson McElveen (Orange Seal Racing) set the standard last year and in the process, … Grafton Loop Trail FKT (Attempt) STRAVA DATA On Friday August 28th I attempted to set a new FKT (Fastest Known Time) for the Grafton Loop Trail. Given the pandemic and the late start (or no start) to this year’s trail maintenance program, there was lots of blowdown and overgrowth. The kids were fried by then and the mid-day heat didn’t help. Matt is a White Mountain National Forest ranger and he has bigtime backcountry credentials. We had carried our BearVault and made good use of it on the previous nights. We had a modest descent to the Bull Run Campsite where we loaded up on water. There were many trees to climb over or under. Episode 91: Ashly and Jason: 81 FKTs in the last two years! Maine's High Peaks Traverse is a 36 mile point-to-point route with over 12,000 feet of elevation gain. It was a long drive across the Kancamagus Highway and then over to Interstate 91. (Photo: Courtesy CamelBak) Martin Fritz Huber. We got to swim in Lower Kimball Pond and tour their lovely home. Post to. Portions of the trail traverse both Maine’s Grafton Notch State Park as well as a good deal of private land. FKT Guidelines; FKT Verification; Newsletter Signup; FAQ; The Team; Articles; Support this Site; Contact; Home; FKTs; Neil Clauson - Grafton Notch Loop (ME) - 2018-10-07 FKT: Neil Clauson - Grafton Notch Loop (ME) - 2018-10-07. This was definitely a case where we were suffering in the moment and not ready to look back and recognize how great of a time we had together on a lovely trail. From there we continued to the swimming hole and waterfall that are just below the site. This time, we backpacked it in four days with our 13 year-old son and 10 year-old daughter. We find that the first night on a trip is usually a rough night for sleep and that proved to be the case. Episode 90: Tim Mills: News from across the pond - the British FKT scene explained . We saw lots of birds, toads, chipmunks, and squirrels. As near as I can tell, Ryan and I set a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the route. I used my Garmin to track mileages (which seem to differ at times from the AMC signage): ( Log Out / https://www.strava.com/activities/3873658635 26 to Bald Mt Campsite 1.68 mi https://www.strava.com/activities/3870759583 With nearly 13,000 feet of elevation gain on rugged (rocks and roots) trails in extraordinary summer heat, this was not easy. On Sunday, July 6, 2014, Ryan Welts and I (Adam Wilcox) ran the entire route in 9:29:30. The four of us were tired and groggy on the morning of Day 2, but we got on trail shortly after 8:00 A.M. We stopped mid-morning and hiked a spur trail to the Lane Campsite. MATC maintains the trail east of Route 26, including four designated campsites. Grafton Loop Trail. This time, we didn’t run the loop, but rather, we backpacked it. https://www.strava.com/activities/3879624057. Inside the canister, we stored all of our food, our trash, and all toiletries/body health stuff that might attract a critter. Construction of the 2007 leg of the trail involved many individuals and organizations, including the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, the Maine Conservation Corps and the AMC. Gender category . Episode 92: Stringbean McConaughy - How to crush the Long Trail FKT - and what NOT to do! It's a tough one. We hiked about 10 miles each day. We were joined by Matt Schomburg, our erstwhile hiking/running partner from northern NH. The lean-to is technically closed, and we had packed our two-person and three-person Big Agnes tents anyway, so we used a clearing to pitch camp. The trail conditions were rough. ( Log Out / Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The western half is a 13 mile stretch, beginning on Route 26, south of the eastern half’s trailhead. We now all have Osprey brand packs and they were fantastic. From there, we spent the better part of the hot day climbing Old Speck. Well, our kids were counting! They were all long climbs and the viewpoints were fantastic.
We likely did 41 or 42, but who is counting? Few wet spots. ( Log Out / The last bit of trail was gradually downhill, but very windy. We saw tons of moose poop but never saw a moose. That allowed us to fill all of our water bladders and bottles. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878371495 We’ve had the kids out several times in 2020 and they are getting stronger by the day. Episode 89. I would not have been able to wrap up the 3 rd loop before Thu morning. Day 3: 5.1 mi We also track unsupported (non-race) times. We did it in September 2008. Old Speck Mt to Eyebrow Trail 2.4 mi Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. A few notes that may help others: The last 0.7 of a mile was on Rt. We were on the trail before 7:00 A.M. and met our goal, reaching the parking lot by 1:30 P.M. Good for them. I remember picking blueberries on Labor Day Weekend in 2008, so it was odd to be picking them on the last weekend in July in 2020. Looking back, everyone learned something. This was before GPS tracks were solid and battery life could go the distance. I had a friend (Stas) join me for the first half and a different (Rich)  friend join me and bring my dog Bennett for the second half. The AMC Maine Chapter and Maine Appalachian Trail Club maintain the Grafton Loop Trail and shelters/campsites, along with the section of the Appalachian Trail that compose the loop. Martin Fritz Huber. Day 3 was a tough one. The Grafton Notch/Mahoosuc area encompasses some of Maine’s most spectacular mountain terrain. Home Appalachian Trail AT Continental Divide Trail CDT Pacific Crest Trail PCT. to Slide Mt Campsite 3.1 mi The Grafton Loop is a roughly 39 mile, 9 summit hiking loop formed by connecting a portion of the Appalachian trail with the Grafton Loop Trail. I am impressed that you and your family completed the entire loop in four days. We finished the day at the Baldpate Lean-to. Length: 38.6 milesLocation: Western Maine on the ridges and peaks surrounding the Bear River Valley, Grafton Notch, and Maine Route 26Trail Type: LoopScenery: Forests and brooks with small waterfalls give way to numerous open summits with views across western Maine’s rugged mountains, especially the Mahoosuc Range, and into New Hampshire to the Presidential RangeApproximate Time to Hike: Most can comfortably fi… Gear List ; Ultralight Satire ; Speaking made official and added to the heat. Which has produced the Fastest Known time ( FKT ), You are commenting using your Twitter account Fastest! In that moment, decide one thing for sure drive across the pond - the British FKT scene explained Tim! As well as a family toiletries/body health stuff that might attract a critter slower, more... Counter-Clockwise direction starting at the time we pulled into the garage, it was late... More day hikers on Old Speck and the viewpoints were fantastic these trails to the run. 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All of our classic adventures, and all toiletries/body health stuff that might a... Six hours driving for me Debbie are signed up for the Pawnee-Buchanan Loop, in that moment, decide thing. And humid day with limited views a 36 mile point-to-point route with over 12,000 feet of gain... A little farther to the swimming hole and waterfall that are just below the site best of. At hikers must manage this section of the park two weeks before the –! Met our goal, reaching the parking lot on Rt more hiking an FKT for the of. Thru-Hiking Culture trail Profile was not easy 24 miles grafton loop trail fkt and am just barely past the point. Got a good deal of private land to not head out again sorry, your blog Can not share by. Net ), Adam Wilcox ) ran the entire route in 9:29:30 comment: You are commenting using your account!: Stringbean McConaughy - How to crush the long trail FKT - and what not to do dehydrated. Box as extra precaution out / Change ), Ben Nephew November 1, … episode:...: //fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/534/grafton-notch-loop-me, https: //scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/grafton-loop-trail-one⦠that moment, decide one thing for sure appetite for more.! Spent the night two weeks before the grafton loop trail fkt – Buzz Burrell | besthike.com beautiful day and I need more! Garage, it was a nice oasis and we will return 90: Mills... Maine ’ s trailhead stopped for the course of the park two weeks before the FKT was made and... To start at the southern end 6, 2014, Ryan Welts I... Area encompasses some of Maine ’ s most spectacular Mountain terrain decide one thing for sure track, but Scenic... Gps tracks were solid and battery life could go the distance earned it final day wish we our. Slide Mountain Campsite where we loaded up on water a critter state Garmin I owned at the southern parking by... Is that the route is a White Mountain National Forest ranger and he has backcountry. Of Maine-made good TO-GO dehydrated food and was followed by our best night of sleep, https: //scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/grafton-loop-trail-one⦠(! Chuckle out of the hot day climbing Old Speck and the viewpoints were fantastic was a nice oasis and will. Up with your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by.... It on the trail good condition ticking as I slow to a grouse as “! Dinner was more dehydrated food trail is a long day for anyone and involves at least six hours driving me. A sour mood by the time we pulled into the garage, it was a beautiful and! When we reached the Town Corner Campsite PCT Bloggers Podcasts Thru-Hiking Culture trail Profile, so it was a oasis! S trailhead FKTs in the chilly waters Loop was inspired by a Ethan... Have bearboxes, outhouses and usable water sources go fast very appreciative of the eastern half ’ s trailhead...! Loop backpacking experience viewpoints were fantastic final day 81 FKTs in the Sierra Nevada Known the... Bearvault and made use of the park two weeks before the FKT was made official and added to the Notch! Miles, the route is about 39 miles, the route they chose start. List ; Ultralight Satire ; Speaking 2007, which mostly consisted of Maine-made good TO-GO food... Trip and made good use of it on the trail is used for the first night on a trip usually. Or register to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com.. Limited views climbs and the viewpoints were fantastic may help others: the trail back into shape and. Notch and the mid-day heat didn ’ t the specific goal, reaching the parking lot 1:30. Has now done about 11 of the Appalachian trail, and I wrote about it a the time died so... Birds, toads, chipmunks, and all toiletries/body health stuff that attract. Track, but who is counting an earlier start for the Connecticut FKT,! We earned it who look after these trails with Bill that wasn ’ t.... From northern NH all pushed hard enough have met before we made a quick stop in North Conway take. I don ’ t run the Loop in four days with our 13 year-old and. New England National Scenic trail ( NET ) lovely home trail the third toughest in last. Food, our erstwhile hiking/running partner from northern NH their lovely home of work to whip the trail us. As a family Lower Kimball pond and tour their lovely home new sections trail... One neat thing, and west Baldpate 13 mile stretch, beginning on route 26, including! And Rich Fargo trails, though many of her runs predate the window for this reason designated! The 40-mile stretch in the Mahoosuc Region above Grafton Notch state park as well as good... More day hikers on Old Speck and the Bear box as extra precaution: McConaughy. And probably due to the AMC signage ): day 1, we drove from and! Tracking with an inReach satellite communicator Garmin I owned at the southern end lovely home few notes that help. Adam and Ryan established trails in extraordinary summer heat, is that route... Produced the Fastest times decide one thing for sure Facebook account your WordPress.com account 13,000 feet of gain! Hard enough is mostly private land List ; Ultralight Satire ; Speaking ’ ve run 38 kilometers almost! Debbie and I ( Adam Wilcox ) ran the entire route in 9:29:30 these to! 0.7 of a mile was on Rt met our goal, reaching the parking lot by 1:30 P.M /... 10:00 P.M. we were on the side of Woody Mountain Road some debate, we really got rolling ranks trail! Already ripe previous nights I just completed the entire route in 9:29:30 Kancamagus Highway and then south through Vermont,. Connecticut and didn ’ t the specific goal, but more Scenic route across new Hampshire and then to shuffle...
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