Kilkenny Ridge Traverse
Date: Sept. 26-28, 1999
Weather: Sunny/mild
Trails: Kilkenny Ridge/Starr King
Length: Approx. 25 miles
Sunday 11:00 AM: Departed from South Pond off Rte. 110 in Stark, NH. After 30 minutes took
a side trail to visit wild and eerie Devil's Hopyard over moss covered boulders. Continued
on Kilkenny Ridge to summit of Rogers Ledge. Nice view of Kilkenny Range and area to be
hiked. Departed Rogers Ledge @ 4:00 PM to find campsite. There is a USFS backcountry site
at the base of Rogers Ledge but I opted to continue on and see where I would end up.
6:00 PM: Arrived at Unknown Pond as the sun
started to disappear. Set up camp, cooked meal, and prepared for sleep. Established
tentsite is right along side of the trail which as I was to find out is also used by the
resident moose population. I was awakened numerous times during the night as moose ran up
and down the trail right by my tent. Even with a full moon illuminating the night, I was
never able to see them because each time I would wake and focus, they would already be
gone by. Slept fairly well and got up at 6:00 AM. After washing up and eating breakfast it
was time to break camp and get going.
Monday 7:00 AM: Departed Unknown Pond on way
to The Horn. Finally saw moose. A large bull with a huge rack came face to face with me 10
yards away on the trail. As soon as he noticed me, he turned and departed. Never saw him
again. Arrived at The Horn and remained for 30 minutes to enjoy the 360 degree view from
the open rocky summit. After this stop, it was over The Bulge, and on to the summit of Mt.
Cabot.
12:00 PM: Arrived at the site of the former
fire watch tower on Mt. Cabot and had lunch here. Made a brief visit to the USFS cabin and
refilled water bottle from a rain barrel there.
1:00 PM: Departed Mt. Cabot and hiked through
Bunnell Notch, up and over Terrace Mtn. and down into Willard Notch. Found a great
campsite with a nearby water source (brook) in the notch.
6:00 PM: Set up camp, had supper, read a short
story (Call of the Wild) from a book called "Mountain Madness" and went to sleep
at 8:00 PM. Slept very well through the night. Arose at 7:00 AM, ate oatmeal, broke camp
and began what was to become my roughest day.
Tuesday 8:00 AM: Left campsite and headed up
Mt. Weeks. Flushed 6 ruffed grouse on the north summit and continued on over the middle
and south summits then descended into the col between Mts. Weeks and Waumbek. Ascended the
north end of Mt. Waumbek to the crest. Minor pain in right knee started here. From this
point on, the trail became a disaster area of blowdowns caused by Hurricane Floyd. There
were many huge fir trees obliterating the trail requiring scrambling over, under, and
around (very difficult with full 60 lb. pack). This required careful navigation to stay on
the trail. Finally reached the summit of Mt. Waumbek (southern terminus of the Kilkenny
Ridge Trail) at noon time and had lunch there. I had planned to stay out one more night
but now decided to finish up and head out. Continued on the Starr King Trail over the
summit of Mt. Starr King and down to Rte. 2 in Jefferson.
Overall, this was a nice trip with great
weather. I only saw 6 other hikers since beginning so it was pretty lonely. Great area if
you like solitude and the feeling of wild country. Highly recommend this hike to others.
Submitted by Michael Gentili
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Mon, 18 Oct 1999
