Hiking Old Speck Mountain in Maine for the NE67
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- This summer I am pursuing the challenge of hiking to the summits of all mountains in Vermont and Maine which are over 4000 feet in elevation. If you add those 19 peaks to the 48 in NH which I already hiked, it adds up to 67. There is a list called the New England 67 made popular by the AMC. Old Speck Mountain is a bit far from my house so I camped the night before at Grafton Notch Campground just down the road.
Chapters:
00:00 Grafton Notch Campground
01:02 Screw Auger Waterfall
06:02 Old Speck Trailhead at 7:00 a.m.
17:52 Summit
22:23 Snake One
25:29 Snake Two
#mainehiking #oldspeck #NE67
Wow Im so inspired by your adventures and videos!! So beautiful Rachel! Thank you for sharing!!❤🥾🥾⛺️😎
Thank you so much!
You fill up my senses like a night in the forest
Ahhhh, that is so beautiful. I am going to work on this even more this summer, trying to get the shots that bring the feeling of the mountains.
"animal output" I'm stealing that :)
😂
The fires in the past were caused by bad logging practices. There was no incentive for a logger to take preventative measures after a harvest, since they had already exploited the value from their land. The government had to step in and create the forestry service to protect the loggers from each other. If you're interested in north east mountain history, I highly recommend "Forest and Crag" by the Watermans.
Yes! I have started researching this. The biggest source of fire was the wood chips and dust from logging and the interaction with sparks from their railroad lines going in and out of the woods! When logging changed, they stopped making fire towers. I will check out that book you mention - thanks!!!
The book is 45 bucks! I'll keep an eye out for a cheaper one or library potential.
@@RachelWhelton there's usually a copy in all the huts too!
Looks like a beautiful area that I’m going to need to check out someday. Great job on that trail. Looked strenuous! Nice views.
Thanks. Yes, it is one of those places "on the list" to visit someday. I recall driving by here years ago and looking at the Falls as we drove by (but not finding any place to park) and having no idea there was a trail to hike.
I’ve seen lots of trail angels in that Grafton Notch parking lot in July and August, who provide trail magic for the AT thru hikers who’ve just completed the extremely tough Mahoosuc section.
I thought of those AT hikers a lot. Like how do they just keep on doing this day after day!?
I was right there with you, then the snakes! Anyhow, at least you made it up and down very nicely, thanks for taking us along.
You bet!
I could spend all day at the falls. Beautiful views. Thank you for sharing. Think that was a Garter Snake. We're just returning from downeast Maine. Highly recommend Anvil Trail up Schoodic head. Camp @ Schoodic Woods.
Sounds great! Thanks for the trail tip.
Another wonderful hike! I have just recently started following your hikes (binging!) and I'd like to say THANK YOU! for all your incredible videos. They are very inspiring. I'm going for a short hike this weekend with my son. I hope to build up to do bigger and better. Thanks again!
Awesome! Thank you! Very kind comment. It's fun to make the videos and I learn so much doing all this.
Thanks for sharing! I'm moving to Maine soon and curious about what the hiking is like. I live in Juneau Alaska and try to get out and hike every weekend but mostly woods or beach trails. I only do 1 or 2 of our 10 mountain trails per year. The snow at the top doesn't melt enough until July and I'm not a fan of hiking in the snow. That's a really long list of mountains to climb! It's great that you have so many trails. We don't have snakes and that would've made me nervous. Ironically I run into black bears every summer and they don't bother me. Probably because I know how to deal with them. The scenery looks great!
Its fabulous!! Maine has soo much to offer! Mountains and seascoast, beauty and wild….enjoy it! 🥾🥾⛺️
This is the first time I'ver ever seen snakes while hiking. I think you will find so much in this area. I really like going farther north in Maine also.
Love your videos Rachel. You're such a sweetie!
Glad you like them! Thanks.
That was quite the trail. Very wild as you said. Love those wooded ridges and views. Your snake encounters reminded me of coming down from Washington and there was a porcupine on the trail refusing to budge and we couldn’t pass. So, we just waited.
Nice they put a metal AT marker on the trail.
Wow .. that fire tower ladder looked pretty scary. Bet you felt like you were floating in the air up there as there wasn’t much tower around you. Can’t beat those tower views though.
List syndrome … yeah, felt the same… was happy (and a little sad) when I finished the NH48, just to start a new list (52WAV). One good thing about the lists is it introduces you to trails you may not find on your own. NE67 might be next for me (at least we get credit for the NH48😊). Looking forward to seeing your adventures in the NE67 as a preview of what’s to come!
Yes, just waiting longer for the wild animal situation to resolve itself is very good advice. That occurred to me later. I always feel the urge to continue movement as if I am short on time. So in the future I will try to remember to stop and observe with more of a calm nature. Of course I would do that with a moose, right?!
Nice to see you trying my state for a change. That's a beautiful hike in the winter. I was too chicken to climb the tower the first time I hiked Old Speck, but overcame my fears on subsequent hikes. You should consider trying to complete the Grafton Loop trail. There are tent sites along the route. My favorite mountain in that area is Sunday River Whitecap. It has a large bald summit with 360 degree views. Excellent video as always.
Sounds great! Thanks for telling me about that one. I will refer back to this at a future time.
Thank you for sharing that! Beautiful views! That trail looks like it gives a good workout! Would have taken me 10! Cant wait to see which one you'll tackle next!
Yeah, it's a fun toss up. I seldom know which is next because various factors come into the mix, like weather and my family's schedule for the week.
Amazing video. Thanks for sharing. 👍19
Thank you! Cheers!
Thanks for the video did Old Speck last summer, it more strenuous than I expected.
You and me both! I feel ready for whatever comes next after that one. It packs a lot of effort in the distance.
Awesome hike! Thanks Rachel : )
Thanks! Great place.
Thank-you Rachel. Lovely video and descriptions. Imagine a snake lunging at you!!
Yes, that really happened that he got his front body up into the sky and wiggled out his tongue. Wish I could have got that on video but I did not want to mess with him. Or her? I suppose I would be upset, too, if somebody nearly stepped on me. Their camo is magical.
@@RachelWhelton Going to sift through my Audubon Eastern Forests and see if I can ID it. I thought at first, maybe De Kay's brown snake. Don't know enough about them.
@@filmic1 A snake lover on the Facebook NE67 page said it is a Garter Snake.
This may be Speck Mountain but I'm gonna call it "Snake" Mountain!
Indeed.
The snake was probably harmless, but then again, how would you know? Maine's got man eating black flies so who knows what the snakes do?
Ha ha, yes, that is true. I suffered more from the black flies. But the snakes clearly believe they can swallow large creatures so I don't want to get anywhere near them.
lovely video!! i couldn't tell from the signs -- were you on the A.T. at all?
Yes, A.T. The video clip where I said that was a big mess and had to be deleted. But yes, almost this entire trail is AT.
Did you hear the dogs howling when at the camp?
Yes, funny you mention that. At first I thought - wolves. But it was 2:30 pm and there are no wolves. So I thought it must be a dog park. Camp owner said there is a husky pack who lives there and goes sledding in winter. So they must have had a moment of howling for something or other.