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Wild Western Maine Road Provides Playland for Adventurous

December 28, 2009 - GILEAD -- Within an hour of Portland sits some of the most wild land in the nation. And it is surrounded by a vast forested playground with something for everyone.

We're talking a primitive mountainous forested place where there are rivers, ponds and hikeable hills all within a woodland area where the most timid winter traveler can venture.

In this wild area – around the aptly named Wild River – sits the 62,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest in Maine where mountaineers can find quiet just as well as the novice snowshoe traveler.

And within the national forest is the 11,235-acre Caribou Speckled Mountain Wilderness where wilderness travel is even more remote, and no motorized vehicles are allowed. The entire area is between Fryeburg and Gilead.

And this time of year this entire area grows even more remote when the road that runs through it shuts down to automobile traffic, silencing the national forest land. Route 113 cuts through the forestland here, but during the winter months it is not plowed.

With winter weather, this road in the national forestland becomes a 10-mile cake walk for the most timid winter traveler. Just a half-foot of snow on the road can turn into hard pack beneath the canopy of pines, perfect for Nordic skis or snowshoes.

There are six trail heads off of Route 113, which runs for nearly 10 miles through the forestland, and there are 13 other trails that branch off of them.

A number of those to the south, including the Blueberry Ridge Trail, extend into the wilderness area, where there are no blazes marking the trail.

The wilderness area is beyond the road. And it offers a more natural place for those looking for a bit more quiet, but only the experienced woodswalker should venture there.

"A wilderness area is a federally designated area. One of the ideas behind it is that it gives people a more natural experience. For example, we don't build structures there, and the signs are not going to give the mileage. It is more up to the individual (to navigate there)," said Rebecca Peterman, an information officer with the White Mountain National Forest in Gorham, N.H.

The rest of the White Mountain National Forest serves snowmobilers, Nordic skiers, snowshoers, dog sleds, winter campers and winter hikers, Peterman said.

One trail that is a cinch to navigate is the Roost trail, which is just a few miles long.

From the gate just south of Gilead, in Bachelders Grant, the trail head can be found a short hike to the south. The Roost climbs to a height of land that looks southwest toward the Carlton Notch mountain range. It climbs steeply but for a short distance, and then drops down and meets up with Route 113 again a few more miles south.

It's tough to get lost if you follow the blazes.

To be sure, hikers and skiers need to be mindful of the snowmobile trails, which are marked. For example, Route 113 also is the major trail, ITS 80. It's a great travel corridor between New Hampshire and Maine, said snowmobiler Lisa Freda who owns Sun Valley Sports in Bethel. And it's part of a popular 50-mile loop out of Bethel, Freda said.

While a dozen sleds were on the trail on Dec. 19, the trail will get busier when there is more snow in the woods.

"It's beautiful there. But you need it to be packed down. The road is smooth and doesn't have boulders so it's used now. You don't have to worry about hitting rocks on the road," Freda said.

Although, there is plenty of room on the road for both snowsleds and foot traffic in this little-explored area, "You want to be aware that it is a snowmobile corridor," Peterman said. "While the snowmobile trails are obvious, you want to be aware of the crossings, to put your dog on a leash."

IF YOU GO

AREA OF INTEREST: The White Mountain National Forest in Maine that
covers 62,000 acres in western Maine, including 11,200 of federally
designated wilderness area.

GETTING THERE: From Fryeburg take Route 113 to the parking area. From
Bethel take Route 2 toward Gorham, N.H., and roughly five miles from
the state line turn left onto Route 113, right next to Evans Notch
Lodge.

PARKING: At the end of Route 113 at either end – south of Gilead or
north of Fryeburg – but not in front of the gate. Logging operations
to remove hazardous trees will take place this winter.

WHAT IT'S GOT: An easy hikable road along Route 113, beside the Wild
River; as well as half a dozen trails good for snowshoeing; also winter
campgrounds for winter camping.

TO LEARN MORE: Call the White Mountain National Forest, at (603)
536-6100, or go to www.fs.fed.us/

By DEIRDRE FLEMING, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, 12/27/09


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


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