Gridding Out Mount Cabot

Summit: Mount Cabot (4,170')

Trail route: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Spur Path to the Horn

Trail conditions: Dry for the most part with some sections of mud and water

Weather: Humid, warm, high thin cloud cover and sunshine

Total miles: 10.6

Total time:  7:38

Today I would gridding out Mount Cabot which means I will have hiked to this summit in every month of the year. Warm temps and humidity were in the forecast so I wanted an early start to at least beat the midday heat. The route today would be up the Unknown Pond Trail to Kilkenny Ridge Trail from Mill Brook Road in Stark. 

It's about a four mile drive down a dirt road to reach the trailhead. The hike started about 5:45 AM. It was a somewhat cool start but the air was heavy with humidity although tolerable at this point. It was a nice hike up to Unkown Pond. The pond was covered with water lilies. Took a brief stop before moving on.

Now on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail there would several ups and downs. There was a drop down then up to The Horn, would take the side path to this summit on the way out. Another drop down then up to The Bulge where the trail crosses directly over the viewless summit. Another descent before the final climb to the summit of Mount Cabot.

Cabot is also a viewless summit and there was really nothing new to see having been here now in every month of the year. Found the wooden summit marker on the back of a different tree than where it has previously been in the past. These unoffical markers are usually somewhat "hidden" because they are removed when found by the "authorities", whoever that might be.

After a short break it would be a return trip over the same trails. Took the spur path up to The Horn and saw the only views of the day although hazy. I'm sure that the haze was due to the humidity but not certain how much the wild fires out west were also contributing. There was the usual PUDS (Pointless Ups and Downs) on the way back to Unknown Pond.

From Unknown Pond it was all downhill from here. There were a few hikers coming up and I was sure glad to be going down as it was getting very warm and humid. Arrived back at the trailhead and I was looking forward to the A/C in my car.

It was a nice day to grid out Mount Cabot. I have three more summits that I can grid out this month. The forecast has heat and humidity increasing this week so I will probably be taking some down time as I am not a fan of hot weather. It's still early in the month and plenty of time left to also grid out the month of August!

Enjoy the photos and video!

The hike starts here from Mill Brook Road

Boundary marker beside the trail between Stark and Kilkenny

A stack of mushrooms

Blue bead lilies

Indian pipe

Trail junction at unknown pond

Unknown Pond

The Horn from Unknown Pond

Reflection in Unknown Pond

Plenty of mushrooms along the trail

On The Bulge

Found the summit stick on Mount Cabot

Sun trying to break through the clouds

Mount Cabot summit signs

On The Horn

A view of Mount Cabot and The Bulge from The Horn

A variety of mushrooms everywhere

Back at the trailhead

Mill Brook

View From The Horn

Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!