| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Middle Abraham, South Abraham , ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Bushwhack, logging roads |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, November 10, 2022 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Road to the South Side Trail trailhead requires good clearance |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No significant crossings |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Today's adventure was one that I had been eyeing for quite some time. Middle Abraham has one of, if not the largest, untrailed alpine zones in New England. The only one which might be larger is on Turner Mountain in Baxter State Park. Today I finally got the chance to visit Middle and South Abraham, along with a bunch of other small peaks along the ridge.
We started at the South Side Trail trailhead on Barnjum Road. We followed the first part of the South Side Trail, but stayed right on the old logging road where the South Side Trail turned left. From the end of the old logging road, it was a relatively quick and easy bushwhack to treeline below Middle Abraham. Someone has built cairns which mark the best route through the talus to the summit of Middle Abraham. This was relatively easy going, and it wasn't long before we reached the summit. The views here are amazing in every direction, and are at least as good as on the main summit of Abraham.
From Middle Abraham, we continued along the alpine ridge towards South Abraham. The first section that we passed through was quite surreal because of the charred skeletons of alpine trees left by a forest fire. We were able to follow cairns and an informal trail for a good portion of the way along the ride. We passed over a few minor summits, most of which were bald and had good views. Eventually the informal trail just abruptly ended in the woods with no noticeable reason why. From here, we bushwhacked to South Abraham. It was easy going at first, but the woods became quite nasty near the summit. The summit had a small alpine area which provided excellent views back along Abraham's huge summit ridge all the way to the main peak. There was also a huge cairn on this summit, which must have taken someone quite some time to build.
We descended from South Abraham and visited one more bald subpeak before making our way towards a clearcut off of the Barnjum Road. We found the clearcut without trouble, and made our way through it to the logging road. It was then a little over a mile back along the road to where we parked. It was quite amazing to be up on the lesser visited summit of Abraham, and it truly is a special place! |
|
 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
|
 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2022-11-10 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaineHiking/permalink/2720343048108072/ |
|
|
Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
|
