Elevation: 1,644 ft (overall) 1,758 ft (total)
Time: 1:57 (Summit) 2:17 (Monta Rosa) 2:54 (Total)
Trails: Old Halfway House Trail, White Arrow Trail, Smith Summit Trail, Monta Rosa Trail, Old Toll Road
With four days of hiking planned in Baxter State Park in Maine soon, I wanted to get in one last hike just to help make sure my legs would be up for the hiking. The planned hikes in Baxter would be some longer hikes with lots of elevation gain and I haven't been hiking as much this year. I wanted to make sure I was at least somewhat prepared. I had one day this week that I could hike after work, so I took the opportunity.
I got to the Old Toll Road trail head just after 5pm and quickly got my gear into place. There were some clouds and it was humid during the day, so I wanted to have plenty of time so I wouldn't have to get so hot and sweaty from the humidity. As always I headed up the Old Halfway House Trail instead of the old Toll Road since I'd much rather be in the woods. The hike up this trail went pretty quick and I wasn't sweating as much as I expected I would. Only a couple hikers were coming down while I headed up.
Heading up the Old Halfway House Trail
From the Old Halfway House Site, I took the direct route up the White Arrow Trail. It's been a while since I have been up this trail since I normally try to avoid the crowds, but being so late in the day and during the week, I knew it wouldn't be that busy. I also needed to re-hike this trail in my quest to remap all the trails with my newer GPS. Just after leaving the Old Halfway House Site, it actually started to rain, but almost as quickly as it started, it stopped again.
The White Arrow Trail was just as rocky as I remember it, but with more wear and tear from the shear number of people that hike it. It's always disappointing though to see the paths leading around obstacles in the trail. If only those hikers knew the damage they do to the trail and mountain in the long run. Let's be honest, you are climbing a mountain, it's not going to be easy. Just stay on the trail and take your time.
White Arrow Trail
Nearing treeline it was still mostly cloudy, but there were some openings in the clouds that allowed for the evening's colors to start showing themselves. There was also a breeze, now that the trees weren't blocking it for me. That made the humid conditions of the day that much better. I kept hiking my way up to the summit and was soon there. There were only a handful of other hikers up there, which made for a pretty quiet and calm place... just the way I like it.
Initially it was cloudy at the summit
As I spent some time around the summit area, the clouds started to dissipate some. It was beginning to look like there might actually be a decent sunset to watch tonight. Not wanting to need my headlamp on the descent, but still wanting to have a view of the pending sunset. I headed quickly down the Smith Summit Trail and headed for Monte Rosa so I could watch from there. I made good time and was there in just 20 minutes.
Sunshine trying to take over the sky
Sun shining on the land to the west
I sat on a nice rock on Monte Rosa and watched the entire sunset from there, taking pictures periodically while it happened. After the sunset (and some ripe blueberries) I headed down the Monte Rosa Trail to the Old Halfway House Site. From here I decided to hike down using the Old Toll Road. I'm not normally a fan of walking the road, but it was getting dark and the road was going to have more light coming through the trees than the trail. This helped me make it back to the truck shortly before I would have needed to get out the headlamp to see my way back.
Nearing sunset with clearing skies
Clouds to the left, clear skies to the right
The weathervane just after sun has set
For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE
