Old Speck, ME
Date: 07/16/2005
Persons in Group: Brian and Greg.
Weather Conditions: 85 degrees, sunny and clear.
Route: Old Speck Trail (Appalachain Trail), up and back.
Notes: My first hike in Maine, and what a nice hike it was. The trail up Old Speck is fantastic with plenty of views, including many of Baldpate. This marked number 63 out of 67 for my father in the NE 4000.
I headed out from Burlington, VT to my parents house in Franklin VT on Friday night. From there, around 4AM the next morning, my dad and I drove out to Grafton State Park in Maine to the Old Speck Trail.
From the parking lot, you can get some great views of the Eyebrow, a series of ledges on the ridge. My Dad in front of them.
Here's a view of the route we were taking today, you can see how the trail wraps around up and over the entire ridge line.
Here's a shot of the AT trail sign, you can see that you would take the AT North to climb Baldpate.
Picture of me moving up a ladder/stairs on the trail.
As we move up towords the upper Eyebrow Trail junction, we get a good view of the summit of Old Speck.
On the way up, we found four of these AT markers.
Also, a great view of Baldpate from the trail up.
My dad at the point where the Old Speck Trail and the AT split. The Old Speck Trail goes another .3 miles to the summit and ends there.
My dad at the summit tower.
I climbed the tower and snapped a few pictures.
Found only one of the three supposed geological benchmarks at the summit.
Final view of Baldpate as we head down the trail back to the parking lot.