Hiking two of New England’s hundred highest peaks, in Maine

PHOTO: White Cap Mountain (Mahoosuc Land Trust photo)

By Garret Carver
TPI Graphic Designer

Over the weekend of Sept. 5 and 6, my father and I decided to knock off a few of New England’s hundred highest.
Since it was Labor Day weekend, we knew it would be busy in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and in Maine’s well-known hiking areas. So we concluded that the best way to avoid the crowds would be to travel north and bag the peaks that are in the middle of nowhere close to the Canadaborder.
Up past Oquossoc and above Kennebago Lake are four of New England’s hundred highest (Snow, Kennebago Divide, White Cap mountains and the Border Monuments 445-446 Peaks). We managed to climb Snow and White Cap mountains that weekend.
Driving from Peru to Oquossoc was straightforward, but once we got onto Route 16 west, we had to get out the Gazetteer. From Route 16 we turned right onto Morton Cutoff, then continue right on Morton Cutoff past RRGSA Shooting Range to Lincoln Pond Road. Took a right onto Lincoln Pond Road, also known as Tim Pond Road, and continued straight.
The road continues to the left past the West Kennebago Trailhead, and over the Kennebago River to a four-way intersection. From there we took a left onto Kennebago River Road up the east side of Little Kennebago Lake, which then parallels the Kennebago River until it takes a left past Beaver Pond Tote Road and over the river. After crossing the river there will be the Bear Brook Road to the right which leads you up to the base of Kennebago Divide and White Cap.
We were only able to drive maybe halfway up the road before coming to a roadblock (several boulders across the road). To be a little more specific, there were two roadblocks. We managed to squeeze by the first roadblock through a narrow, but big enough gap for a truck, and had to stop at the second. The second row of rocks had enough of a gap for no more than an ATV to get through. From there we took bikes up to the end of the road at the base of the peaks.
Past the road is a skidder trail that we followed for around one to two hundred feet before coming to a footpath off to the right (marked by a blue ribbon). We followed to path, which was well traveled all the way up White Cap Mountain.
The other hike, up Snow Mountain, in Upper Cupsuptic Township was easier to get to. Going off from the Bear Brook Road is the Wiggle Brook Road to the right. The road snakes or makes a s, then ascending towards the north side of the Mountain. The last road to take, the Snow Mountain Road, is on the left. We were only able to drive only so far before it got too rough and had to park the vehicle.
After continuing along the road by foot we came to what I assume was an old road that branched off to the left. A path leading up the road, through the tall weeds, alone the north/northwest side of the mountain. Eventually the road came to an end and the path continued through the wood to the summit. The path is well traveled making it easy enough to follow and the ascent was gradual.