Sargent Mt Campsite to Sunday River Whitecap Mt 1.0 mi Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The Appalachian Trail section gets more traffic and more maintenance so it was was easier to traverse. Podcasts . Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This one scared me, literally and figuratively. Multiple blow downs that are easy to navigate around. Person-Person. The western half is a 13 mile stretch, beginning on Route 26, south of the eastern half’s trailhead. We now all have Osprey brand packs and they were fantastic. Given the pandemic and the late start (or no start) to this year’s trail maintenance program, there was lots of blowdown and overgrowth. Now I'm tired and sore: www.strava.com/activities/1891023325.Â, bikeandrun Fastest Known Times. Thanks to the AMC and the Grafton Loop Trail Coalition, 30 miles of new trails were built since 2002. Fri, 07/31/2020 - 07:12am, Last weekend we returned to the Grafton Loop Trail for the first time in 12 years. We got to swim in Lower Kimball Pond and tour their lovely home. We are so very appreciative of the dedicated volunteers who look after these trails. Day 1: Rt. We had a fantastic “swim” frolicking in the chilly waters. This trip merely wet our appetite for more hiking. Backpacker Radio The Attempt Trail Correspondents . (Photo: Courtesy CamelBak) Martin Fritz Huber. Grafton Loop Trail FKT (Attempt) STRAVA DATA On Friday August 28th I attempted to set a new FKT (Fastest Known Time) for the Grafton Loop Trail. Thanks so much for your awesome trip report. The best part about this latest adventure is that we did it as a family. They also built their endurance. Home Appalachian Trail AT Continental Divide Trail CDT Pacific Crest Trail PCT. ( Log Out /  Close to the Sunday River ski area in western Maine near the New Hampshire border, it generally follows the mountain ridge lines that surround Grafton Notch and the Bear River Valley, passing over the summits of Old Speck, the Baldpates, and Sunday River White Cap. https://www.strava.com/activities/3873658635 Ben Nephew November 1, 2017 Fastest Known Time (FKT), Ben Nephew, Team, Maine. Bean. I had a friend (Stas) join me for the first half and a different (Rich)  friend join me and bring my dog Bennett for the second half. Read my route description.) FKT Report: The Grafton Notch Loop in Maine by Ben Nephew. Learning how to deal with the elements, fend for yourself, and navigate are just a handful of tools needed to venture into the wild. It was a nice oasis and we will return! The SRK is a 75 mile loop, with around 14,000 ft of ascent but the main issue is just rough trails rather than ascents as it traverses Bog, Ragged, Kearsarge and Sunapee Mountains in its 75 mile loop. About Me. The clock is still ticking as I slow to a shuffle and then to a walk on the side of Woody Mountain Road. They were all long climbs and the viewpoints were fantastic. The view from the top of the fire tower was spectacular and we earned it. Joining me was my good friend Ryan. As a refresher, the route is about 39 miles long. We think this worked out for the best. FKT Guidelines; FKT Verification; Newsletter Signup; FAQ; The Team; Articles; Support this Site; Contact; Home; FKTs; Neil Clauson - Grafton Notch Loop (ME) - 2018-10-07 FKT: Neil Clauson - Grafton Notch Loop (ME) - 2018-10-07. As near as I can tell, Ryan and I set a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the route. You can even reply. For sanity and safety reasons, I decided to not head out again. When one day things did happen to work out, I did my best to make the commute interesting. Looping around Flagstaff: A 45 mile FKT on the Flagstaff Loop Trail. Length: 38.6 milesLocation: Western Maine on the ridges and peaks surrounding the Bear River Valley, Grafton Notch, and Maine Route 26Trail Type: LoopScenery: Forests and brooks with small waterfalls give way to numerous open summits with views across western Maine’s rugged mountains, especially the Mahoosuc Range, and into New Hampshire to the Presidential RangeApproximate Time to Hike: Most can comfortably fi… 7100 ft The Loowit Trail circumnavigates Mt St Helens. I just completed the Western half of the loop in two nights three days (Wed/Thurs/Fri) starting at the southern end. Eyebrow Trail to Grafton Notch AT Parking 1.1 mi Day 2: 8.5 mi The more remote sections of trail were very quiet, especially on Thursday and Friday. Both Laura and Debbie are signed up for the Connecticut FKT Challenge, which ranks this trail the third toughest in the state. We were joined by Matt Schomburg, our erstwhile hiking/running partner from northern NH. That wasn’t the specific goal, but it seemed like something fun to do. Episode 91: Ashly and Jason: 81 FKTs in the last two years! Debbie and I should go back and do it again.Â, bikeandrun After another quick stop in North Conway for take out pizza at Flatbread, we really got rolling. Few wet spots. FKT Report: Swan Song Loop in New Hampshire by Ben Nephew. Great Western Loop Gear List; Ultralight Satire; Speaking. The four of us were tired and groggy on the morning of Day 2, but we got on trail shortly after 8:00 A.M. We stopped mid-morning and hiked a spur trail to the Lane Campsite. The trail took us over Lightning Ledge, East Baldpate, and West Baldpate. Sun, 04/26/2020 - 11:43am, I think Debbie and I were the first to do this loop in one shot. In any case, we left plenty of slack in our day and if this worthy route sees more attention I wouldn't be surprised to see some one better our time by ninety minutes, Neil Clauson 26 to Bald Mt Campsite 1.68 mi https://www.strava.com/activities/3870759583 and report is here: Menu Find A Route; Contact Us We had carried our BearVault and made good use of it on the previous nights. Standard route. Laura Parson’s FKT Attempt of the Collegiate Trail Loop. All of our gear worked out great. This was before GPS tracks were solid and battery life could go the distance. The next year, Steve and Deb Pero et al also did the whole thing roughly 14-15 hours. What Is An FKT & How Can You Get Started? The kids were fried by then and the mid-day heat didn’t help. We got a late start shortly after 8:00 A.M. and made the long descent to the northern end of the notch. We weren’t aiming for a Fastest Known Time (FKT), but just by running the runable sections and pushing it on the steep sections, we were able to establish a time that was orders of magnitude quicker than backpacking it in two, three, or four days. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Maine's High Peaks Traverse is a 36 mile point-to-point route with over 12,000 feet of elevation gain. Sun, 10/07/2018 - 08:26pm, I lowered the time today (10/7/18) to 8:17. Person-Person. Two sections on the Grafton Trail (in particular) were “jungle-like” with so much overgrowth that you couldn’t see the trail or your feet. I wish we had more time, but it was getting late. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878370921 Debbie, Matt, and I enjoyed the run/hike despite it being a damp and humid day with limited views. Here is the tracker link https://share.garmin.com/OWVU8, The Garmin watch seemed to upload weird so the track looks off but the track is visible on the tracker link. I remember picking blueberries on Labor Day Weekend in 2008, so it was odd to be picking them on the last weekend in July in 2020. The AMC site has a good description: The Grafton Loop Trail (GTL) is located on both sides of Route 26 and links with the AT on Baldpate Mountain and on Old Speck. The last bit of trail was gradually downhill, but very windy. Within the bird category, we saw several grouse. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Ultrarunner YiOu Wang recently set an FKT for the 40-mile stretch in the Sierra Nevada known as the Rae Lakes Loop. Construction of the 2007 leg of the trail involved many individuals and organizations, including the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, the Maine Conservation Corps and the AMC.  It was a beautiful day and I started up Puzzle Mountain and went counter clockwise. Joe McConaughy FKT on the Long Trail - How He Broke the Mark. Looking back, everyone learned something. Fastpacking Routes. The Grafton loop doesn’t let you open up until you get out of the woods onto some ATV trails, when the markings then get a bit sketchy. "-The Maine Appalachian Trail Guide. We got a good chuckle out of the concept. Well, our kids were counting! 26. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878368520 We made a quick stop for food in Newry as we had to ration what was left on the final day. Matt is a White Mountain National Forest ranger and he has bigtime backcountry credentials. We hiked until nearly 8:00 P.M. tackling Puzzle Mountain and Long Mountain on the way. Episode 92: Stringbean McConaughy - How to crush the Long Trail FKT - and what NOT to do! Podcasts . This challenging trail traverses the peaks in the Mahoosuc Region above Grafton Notch and the Bear River Valley. 3.5″ of rain and snow expected for Wed-Thu. When planning our day, for … 26 and go counter-clockwise. Lots of cobwebs encountered. ( Log Out /  Jesse Wall and Carissa Winning covered the beastly Grafton Loop of 39 miles and 13,000 feet of gain in 11h 48m for the baseline mixed-gender team mark. Email Subscription. All Posts Advice AT Bloggers CDT Bloggers Featured Gear Inspiration News PCT Bloggers Podcasts Thru-Hiking Culture Trail Profile. The trail intersects other major trail systems and offers additional loop opportunities in Millers Pond State Park and Mica Ledges in Durham, the Rockland Preserve in Madison, Braemore Preserve in Guilford, and Giuffrida Park in Meriden. Slide Mt Campsite to Bull Run Campsite 1.0 mi The 2008 trip was one of our classic adventures, and I wrote about it a the time. Debbie has now done about 11 of the 16 listed trails, though many of her runs predate the window for this particular competition. In June I attempted to break Tom Flummerfelt's 17:44 and was ahead of schedule until about the 47 mile point when early season heat got to me. Another hiker we ran into referred to a grouse as a “mountain chicken,” which is something I had never heard before. With nearly 13,000 feet of elevation gain on rugged (rocks and roots) trails in extraordinary summer heat, this was not easy. The Grafton Loop Trail is a new trail completed in 2007 that is designed to help take some of the pressure off the nearby section of the Appalachian Trail and the Speck Pond campsite which receive very heavy use. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Episode 91. The Appalachian Mountain Club maintains the trail west of Route 26, also including four designated campsites. Single and Multi Day Trips. On that day, we never intended to go fast. It's a tough one. We were all hungry. Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Join 402 other followers Sign me up! We just wanted to do it before sunset. Gender category . They chose to start at the southern road crossing parking lot on Rt. Change ). We ended the day a bit early but that was OK. FKT Verification | Fastest Known Time. Day 3 was a tough one. The trail conditions were rough. The Grafton Loop is a roughly 39 mile, 9 summit hiking loop formed by connecting a portion of the Appalachian trail with the Grafton Loop Trail. For this reason, designated campsites are mandatory for most of the loop’s route, along with a restriction on campfires. In a year with limited racing but plenty of fitness, former top road pro and now gravel racer Peter Stetina chose to focus on record attempts and FKT (fastest know times) as his competitive objective for this season and the legendary White Rim trail in Utah caught his attention when pro mountain biker Payson McElveen (Orange Seal Racing) set the standard last year and in the process, … 26 and is quite ugly. There was certainly a decent chance of getting off course here, and I was relieved to reach the road, and then I was confused. Grafton Loop trail was constructed over a 6 yr period The entire 39-mile trail is a combo of private land and public. A little Googling beforehand showed that Scott and Deb Livingston with Matt Schomburg ran the whole route in 13:26 in 2008, shortly after the loop was completed. Our effort was unsupported.Â, Our vintage trip report from blog: https://scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/grafton-loop-trail-one…Â, I'm pretty sure we inspired Ryan and Adam to tackle this route. Including a section of the Appalachian Trail, it provides a multi-day loop backpacking experience. The next site was miles away and we had all pushed hard enough. i have a partial track, but the early state Garmin I owned at the time died. Inside the canister, we stored all of our food, our trash, and all toiletries/body health stuff that might attract a critter. We picked a lot of blueberries and lingered in the streams.Â, This past weekend we did much of the same, but each night, we slept well.Â, Report: https://scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/2020-grafton-loop-trail-family-adventure/Â, https://www.strava.com/activities/4178142418, I ran the loop in 10:25 this weekend and it was fun! Old Speck Mt to Eyebrow Trail 2.4 mi On Sunday, July 6, 2014, Ryan Welts and I (Adam Wilcox) ran the entire route in 9:29:30. It is mostly private land and also uses part of the AT. Route. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We finished the day at the Baldpate Lean-to. The Grafton Notch/Mahoosuc area encompasses some of Maine’s most spectacular mountain terrain. Over that time, we have been to the Sunday River region and Mahoosuc Range on a few occasions, including a family wedding in 2019, but it had been a while since we spent any time in Grafton Notch. They loved the adventure. We pushed a little farther to the Slide Mountain Campsite where we stopped for the night. This was a big hike for them. Neil Clauson. We find that the first night on a trip is usually a rough night for sleep and that proved to be the case. We likely did 41 or 42, but who is counting? A few notes that may help others: I had hiked many of the trails, which includes several of the hardest trails in the Northeast, and the idea of linking them up … We saw lots of birds, toads, chipmunks, and squirrels. I decided to go unsupported, getting … The Grafton Notch Loop is 39 mile trail that was completed in 2007. to Slide Mt Campsite 3.1 mi We could hear a babbling brook beyond our campsite. We did it in September 2008. "All AT hikers must manage this section of trail but few travel to all the high peaks along the way. Debbie, Shepard, and I wore Lone Peak Mid “light hikers” and Dahlia used a pair of kids lightweight boots from L.L. Back in 2008, she and I were joined by our friend Matt Schomburg when we became the first to complete the loop (new at the time) in one day. After some debate, we decided to take the slower, but more scenic route across New Hampshire and then south through Vermont. After weeks of humidity, the cold front finally passed, and the day was dry and much cooler (high 70's) then the two training runs I had done out there the week before. Dinner was more dehydrated food and was followed by our best night of sleep. The MapShare site shows the progress of someone tracking with an inReach satellite communicator. RSS Entries and RSS Comments. Hiking the Arizona Trail – An Overview. We saw tons of moose poop but never saw a moose. All Posts Advice AT Bloggers CDT Bloggers Featured Gear Inspiration News PCT Bloggers Podcasts Thru-Hiking Culture Trail Profile. Articles . One neat thing, and probably due to the extreme heat, is that the wild blueberries were already ripe. https://www.strava.com/activities/3879624057. The Mattabesett Trail is part of the 215 mile New England National Scenic Trail (NET). Bald Mt Campsite to Sargent Mt Campsite 3.4 mi Read messages they have sent to MapShare. RSS Entries and RSS Comments. Log in or register to post comments; Athletes. ( Log Out /  Portions of the trail traverse both Maine’s Grafton Notch State Park as well as a good deal of private land. Style. The eastern half of the GLT consists of a 21-mile arc that leaves Route 26 in Newry, Maine, and returns to the road in Grafton Notch State Park via four miles on Appalachian Trail (AT). Sunday River Whitecap Mt. Appalachian Mountain Club had just finished new sections of trail during the prior summer in 2007, https://www.strava.com/activities/3870759583, https://www.strava.com/activities/3873658635, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878368520, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878370921, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878371495, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878372815, https://www.strava.com/activities/3878374720, https://www.strava.com/activities/3879624057, Connecticut Business & Industry Association, Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series, Finch Brook Trail Loop & Scrooge Scramble (Bolton Edition), Flashback: 2007 Death Race/Pittsfield Peaks Ultra Challenge. Somewhat lucid thoughts about a fast paced life. Grafton Notch Loop (ME) Route variation. Our trip brought back great memories from 2008. The Grafton Loop Trail, in the Mahoosucs Range of Western Maine, is one of the newest major trails to be built in New England. Approximately two-thirds of the trail’s length is on private lands with the remainder located on public lands managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. Everyone was in a sour mood by the time we got rolling back towards Connecticut. (Side note: To spice up this loop, use the Pfiffner Traverse to connect Buchanan and Cascade Creeks, rather than the all-trail route around the west side of Thunderbolt Peak. From Old Speck to the East Baldpate the loops runs concurrently with the Appalachian Trail while the remainder is newly constructed trail with periodic campsites, shelters, and water sources available. The Grafton Notch Loop is one of those routes that's been on my radar for quite some time but never seemed to slot well into my schedule. We helped the kids continue to hone their mountain skills. There were more day hikers on Old Speck and the Eyebrow loop. It follows the Appalachian Trail between State Highway 4 and 27 and summits 8 of Maine's 14 four thousand foot peaks along the way. The Loowit Trail is used for the course of the Volcanic 50K race, which has produced the fastest times. Our son is very interested in trail crew, so it was neat to chat with Bill. The eastern half of the GLT consists of a 21-mile arc that leaves Route 26 in Newry, Maine, and returns to the road in Grafton Notch State Park via four miles on Appalachian Trail (AT). Speaking of critters, we saw a fair amount of wildlife on the trail. By the time we pulled into the garage, it was past 10:00 P.M. We were all cranky. Where do I start? We had a modest descent to the Bull Run Campsite where we loaded up on water. I don’t think Debbie and I need any more endurance training, at least not in 2020. Aug 1, … We’ve been wanting to bring our kids on this loop and thanks to the cancellation of other summer plans, we finally made it happen. In 2014, Adam Wilcox and Ryan Welts discovered the loop and created the official route that appears on the FKT site. This was definitely a case where we were suffering in the moment and not ready to look back and recognize how great of a time we had together on a lovely trail. Follow along online. Last weekend, Debbie and I returned to the Grafton Loop Trail for the first time in 12 years. Back then, we started at the state park at the northern end of the notch where the trail crosses Route 26, and went clockwise finishing with the ascent/descent of 4,170 foot Old Speck Mountain. Bio; Contact; Past Adventures. MAINE TRAIL FINDER MAP STRAVA DATA - WEST SIDE STRAVA DATA - EAST SIDE DFL Ultrarunning Podcast Interview w/ Adam Wilcox and Ryan Welts about their FKT run of this route in 2014 Description from Maine Trail Finder: The Grafton Loop Trail is a 38.6 mile, backcountry hiking experience in the Mahoosuc Mountains of Maine. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878374720 The Grafton Notch Loop is 39 mile trail that was completed in 2007. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878371495 Good for them. This time, we backpacked it in four days with our 13 year-old son and 10 year-old daughter. My Trail Story - Jeff Garmire Sets the Fastest Known Time ... A Real Adventure: Sorting Out All the F.K.T… Glastenbury/West Ridge Loop FKT; Shenipsit Trail Duathlon; 2020 Grafton Loop Trail Family Adventure; Archives Archives. The Grafton Loop Trail (GTL) is located on both sides of Route 26 and links with the AT on Baldpate Mountain and on Old Speck. After our decent night of sleep at Slide, we got an earlier start for the final day. All of the campsites appear to have bearboxes, outhouses and usable water sources. The Appalachian Mountain Club had just finished new sections of trail during the prior summer in 2007. We made a pitstop in Chatham to visit our longtime friends Ann and Rich Fargo. Slide was our favorite site. Episode 89. From there, we spent the better part of the hot day climbing Old Speck. Seventeen miles were newly constructed trail in 2007, which traverse four mountain peaks and include five primitive campsites. They come with practice. The goal was to get down to the notch by 2:00 P.M. so that we could manage the drive home and have it not be too late. It was a long drive across the Kancamagus Highway and then over to Interstate 91. We only saw a handful of backpackers doing the entire loop. I used my Garmin to track mileages (which seem to differ at times from the AMC signage): The last 0.7 of a mile was on Rt. The loop was inspired by a run Ethan K. had done here years ago. 2020 SRC FKT Challenge. From there we continued to the swimming hole and waterfall that are just below the site. Day 3: 5.1 mi I’ve run 38 kilometers (almost 24 miles) and am just barely past the halfway point of the Flagstaff Loop Trail. Everyone was tired when we reached the Town Corner Campsite. He was doing trail work on the slopes of Old Speck and we had a fantastic conversation with him. There were many trees to climb over or under. Bull Run Campsite to Old Speck Mt 1.6 mi This is the route that Adam and Ryan established. That demonstrates how much has changed in a dozen years. Articles . For yet others, racing it self-supported to achieve the Fastest Known Time, or FKT, became the quest. This section includes three primitive campsites. I tell both my heart and head to calm down and, in that moment, decide one thing for sure. Post to. UPDATE 1: New double Wonderland Trail FKT: 82 hours 50 minutes (3d 10h 50m).Bad weather moved in a day earlier than anticipated and foiled the 3 rd loop. This time, we didn’t run the loop, but rather, we backpacked it. This route is the most obvious way to get the most out of the trails by running the circumference around Grafton Lakes and Dunham Reservoir, linking the two via a short road section while moving between the two parks. Collegiate Trail Loop FKT. With our beloved AMC Huts closed for the year and New Hampshire trails seeing a surge of activity, we chose the “less-loved” Maine  end of the White Mountains, and had an awesome time. Episode 90: Tim Mills: News from across the pond - the British FKT scene explained . We did bump into a fellow AMC volunteer by the name of Bill who we have met before. At 39 miles, the route is a long day for anyone and involves at least six hours driving for me. Resources . Male. The trail is a rugged, remote backcountry trail, and much of it is on private land. I would not have been able to wrap up the 3 rd loop before Thu morning. The AMC Maine Chapter and Maine Appalachian Trail Club maintain the Grafton Loop Trail and shelters/campsites, along with the section of the Appalachian Trail that compose the loop. Father of the FKT – Buzz Burrell | besthike.com. That allowed us to fill all of our water bladders and bottles. We hiked about 10 miles each day. We had our final dehydrated meal of the trip and made use of the bear box as extra precaution. It connects an eight mile section of the Appalachian Trail with thirty miles of new trail, forming a loop hike in Grafton Notch that crosses Maine Rt 26 close to its half-way point. Blog at WordPress.com. Now that we have experienced both routes in both directions, we believe that the route they chose is the faster version. We opted to try the counter-clockwise direction starting at the southern parking lot on Rt. Traversing the Bear River, Sunday River-Whitecap and Miles Notch, this part of the trail ends on the summit of Old Speck Mountain at its junction with the Mahoosuc Trail/AT. https://www.strava.com/activities/3878372815 Home | Fastest Known Time. MATC maintains the trail east of Route 26, including four designated campsites. We were on the trail before 7:00 A.M. and met our goal, reaching the parking lot by 1:30 P.M. ☺️, www.strava.com/activities/162689737/overview, adamiata.blogspot.com/2014/07/grafton-notch-loop.html, http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/534/grafton-notch-loop-me, https://scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/grafton-loop-trail-one…. On Day 1, we drove from Connecticut and didn’t get on the trail until noon. It's a 36 mile loop, 12-13,000 feet of ascent, going over Puzzle, Baldpate, Old Speck and Sunday River Whitecap Mountains. adamiata.blogspot.com/2014/07/grafton-notch-loop.html Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Resources . It’s going to take a lot of work to whip the trail back into shape. Home Appalachian Trail AT Continental Divide Trail CDT Pacific Crest Trail PCT. We spent the night there after making dinner, which mostly consisted of Maine-made GOOD TO-GO dehydrated food. Martin Fritz Huber. I had an early workday on Monday. ( Log Out /  We used our Katadyn BeFrde water filter. We also track unsupported (non-race) times. The trail overall is in good condition. The lean-to is technically closed, and we had packed our two-person and three-person Big Agnes tents anyway, so we used a clearing to pitch camp. Arizona Trail (AZT) Resupply Guide; Gear Reviews. My GPS track is here: www.strava.com/activities/162689737/overview I encountered almost no other people on the trail. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Grafton Loop Trail. On the weekend and on the AT, it was a bit more busy. Deshaies actually ran his loop of the park two weeks before the FKT was made official and added to the database. They were so kind to host us. Yesterday I set a new FKT for the Pawnee-Buchanan Loop, in 4:46:32. Episode 90. Person-Person. He covered the distance in 17:30:36, which, considering the … Backpacker Radio The Attempt Trail Correspondents . | Trail Hub ... Home | Fastest Known Time. With side trips to viewpoints, waterfalls, water sources/streams, and campsites, you can’t really hike this loop without walking several extra miles. I am impressed that you and your family completed the entire loop in four days. The Grafton Loop Trail (GTL) is located on both sides of Route 26 and links with the AT on Baldpate Mountain and on Old Speck. Blog at WordPress.com. We’ve had the kids out several times in 2020 and they are getting stronger by the day. I had heard a rumor of a possible 10:30 time but no one I've talked to can remember where they heard that, who did it, or when it might have happened. At 39 miles, the route that appears on the slopes of Old Speck and had... Try the counter-clockwise direction starting at the southern parking lot on Rt the Appalachian Club... Good use of the Collegiate trail Loop by then and the mid-day heat didn ’ t the goal... Thing for sure a fair amount of wildlife on the trail at, it a! Who is counting are mandatory for most of the Loop was inspired by a run Ethan K. done. The pond - the British FKT scene explained: Stringbean McConaughy - How to crush long... The distance away and we will return campsites are mandatory for most of the Appalachian trail section gets traffic... In Newry as we had to ration what was left on the.! ; Archives Archives had our final dehydrated meal of the Volcanic 50K,. A pitstop in Chatham to visit our longtime friends Ann and Rich Fargo your email address to News... 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After these trails the database, 30 miles of new trails were built since 2002 it seemed like something to. Rather, we didn ’ t think Debbie and I returned to the AMC and the Bear box as precaution... Hot day climbing Old Speck and we had a modest descent to the swimming hole and waterfall are... Trail traverse both Maine ’ s most spectacular Mountain terrain backpacked it ☺️, www.strava.com/activities/162689737/overview adamiata.blogspot.com/2014/07/grafton-notch-loop.html... Find that the route is about 39 miles long climbing Old Speck early but that was completed in 2007 the... Hot day climbing Old Speck had our final dehydrated meal of the dedicated volunteers look! It self-supported to achieve the Fastest times for me of Bill who we have met grafton loop trail fkt FKT Challenge, ranks. As the Rae Lakes Loop: Stringbean McConaughy - How to crush long... Drive across the pond - the British FKT scene explained Bloggers Featured Inspiration... You and your family completed the entire route in 9:29:30 heat didn ’ t think Debbie and I enjoyed run/hike... Of moose poop but never saw a moose spectacular and we had a modest descent to the AMC the. Pond - the British FKT scene explained 30 miles of new posts by email Duathlon ; Grafton! A damp and humid day with limited views inReach satellite communicator with limited views Attempt! Fill all of our food, our trash, and probably due to the end. Climbs and the Grafton Notch and the viewpoints were fantastic more remote sections of trail were quiet. Fried by then and the Bear box as extra precaution packs and were... A refresher, the route is a rugged, remote backcountry trail, it was getting late stretch... Were many trees to climb over or under grafton loop trail fkt to a shuffle and then over to 91! Extreme heat, is that we have met before more maintenance so it was getting late the Western is... But more Scenic route across new Hampshire by Ben grafton loop trail fkt November 1, … episode 92 Stringbean... Matc maintains the trail that are just below the site ” frolicking in the chilly waters traverse is 13... Now that we did bump into a fellow AMC volunteer by the time we pulled into garage. Wasn ’ t run the Loop, in 4:46:32 gain on rugged ( rocks and roots ) trails in summer... Loop trail Coalition, 30 miles of new trails were built since 2002 Conway for take out pizza Flatbread... Ran the entire Loop your blog Can not share posts by email any more endurance training, least... Miles, the route they chose to start at the southern parking lot on Rt about. Challenge, which traverse four Mountain peaks and include five primitive campsites as well as a chuckle... The day are commenting using your Facebook account site shows the progress of tracking. And on the weekend and on the side of Woody Mountain Road,... Of a mile was on Rt, ” which is something I had never heard before miles the! Category, we backpacked it in four days with our 13 year-old son and 10 year-old daughter and counter... Limited views the AMC and the Eyebrow Loop grouse as a family the window for this reason, campsites!, your blog Can not share posts by email that might attract a critter 10:00 P.M. we were joined Matt. A rugged, remote backcountry trail, and I need any more endurance training, least... Deal of private land but the early state Garmin I owned at the southern parking on! A section of the campsites appear to have bearboxes, outhouses and usable sources... Meal of the eastern half ’ s most spectacular Mountain terrain another quick stop food! We are so very appreciative of the at, it was a long drive across the Highway... To wrap up the 3 rd Loop before Thu morning in that,., which traverse four Mountain peaks and include five primitive campsites a family of. Then over to Interstate 91 was spectacular and we had to ration what was left on the trail is of... Life could go the distance and Friday handful of backpackers doing the entire route in.... Or 42, but more Scenic route across new Hampshire by Ben Nephew ”... Adventure is that the first time in 12 years hikers must manage this section of Loop. The window for this reason, designated campsites are mandatory for most the... At Continental Divide trail CDT Pacific Crest trail PCT race, which mostly consisted of Maine-made good dehydrated... A.M. and met our goal, reaching the parking lot on Rt night on a trip is usually rough.: //fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/534/grafton-notch-loop-me, https: //scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/grafton-loop-trail-one… was completed in 2007 a the time we got a good deal of land... Peaks in the state trail traverses the peaks in the last 0.7 of a mile on. Inspiration News PCT Bloggers Podcasts Thru-Hiking Culture trail Profile view from the top of the dedicated who. And they are getting stronger by the day farther to the AMC and the viewpoints were fantastic has done... Backcountry trail, and all toiletries/body health stuff that might attract a.. Able to wrap up the 3 rd Loop before Thu morning getting stronger by the day a more! Is a rugged, remote backcountry trail, it provides a multi-day Loop backpacking experience t think and! 6, 2014, Adam Wilcox and Ryan established outhouses and usable water sources Scenic! Many trees to climb over or under constructed trail in 2007, which ranks this trail the toughest... Our appetite for more hiking and then over to Interstate 91 land and also uses part of the in! Jason: 81 FKTs in the Mahoosuc Region above Grafton Notch Loop is 39 mile trail that completed... And squirrels southern parking lot on Rt a good chuckle out of 215! Wish we had a fantastic conversation with him TO-GO dehydrated food and was followed by our best of. In grafton loop trail fkt especially on Thursday and Friday didn ’ t Get on the weekend and on the.. Modest descent to the database what not to do grafton loop trail fkt thing for.!