Summit: Mount Cabot (4,170')
Trail route: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Dry with some wet and muddy sections
Weather: Started cool, cool with a slight breeze on the summit, warm on the way down
Total miles: 10
Total time: 5:30
The weather seemed to have a great deal of uncertainty. With Hurricane Dorian passing off the coast of New England there were overnight showers and early morning showers in the forecast then more showers for later in the afternoon. I checked the radar when I got up this morning and saw a band of showers moving across New Hampshire but dissipating as they got closer. I decided to go for it as there had been no rain so far.
This is a short drive for me, only fifteen minutes to the trailhead from my house. There were four cars ahead of me at the small parking area and I parked beside the road. I was soon on the trail and it wasn't long before I was walking through thick, low growth across the trail. I was thinking that this would have been a very wet hike had there been overnight rain. With a cloud cover there wasn't even morning dew and I stayed dry.
For the most part the trail was dry and the water level was low so no problem with crossing. Saw my first hiker when I got to the old Mt. Cabot Trail junction. I arrived at Bunnell Rock and got a great view. I could see the clouds clearing from the west.
I stopped briefly at the Cabot cabin and chatted with some other hikers before moving on to the summit. At the viewpoint above the cabin I could see more clearing from the west and a cloud cover to the east. I continued on to the summit.
There were more hikers arriving while I was at the summit. I didn't stay long and was soon on my way back down. I stopped to eat my sandwich outside the hut before continuing my descent.
It was a pleasant hike down and I saw many more hikers along the way. The weather turned out to be better than I was expecting and there wasn't even a drop of rain although it looked rather threatening toward the end of the hike.
With cooler temps and leaves starting to change the harbingers of Fall were obvious, it won't be long until Autumn arrives!
Enjoy the photos and video!
The hike starts here
Bridge over water crossing
White asters
Blue asters
Goldenrod
Turning onto the Bunnell Notch Trail
Mount Cabot
Talus field high up on Mount Cabot
Clover
All Heal (Prunella vulgaris)
Wild berries
Low water on the crossings
Agaricus arvensis
Up close
Turning onto the Kilkenny Ridge Trail
A view from the trail
View from Bunnell Rock
High summits in the distance
A lone indian pipe
Mount Cabot privy
Clouds to the east
Clearing to the west
Common yarrow
Blue bead lily
Mount Cabot summit
Summit signs
Window reflection at the Cabot cabin
Mount Cabot cabin
Descending
Reindeer lichen
Granite state
Hobblebush turning color
Another lone indian pipe
Wide path
Trail is overgrown with ferns
Wildflowers were covered with bees through this section
Back at the trailhead
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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