The weather for this hike was cloudy with the top of Mt. Cabot stuck in the clouds.  A day or so earlier the weather forecast looked more promising, but as with any weather in New England, and especially the mountains, things can change quickly.

I hiked this with my friend Jonathan from Meredith. It is another 4,000 footer added to the completed list.  I still have 8 more 4,000 footers to complete in NH.  I'm not actively doing the 100 highest, but will hike them if I can combine them with a 4,000 footer, and is not a major bushwhack.  Many in Maine are major bushwhacks.  Both The Bulge and The Horn are 100 highest. 

We started the hike from the fish hatchery on the York Pond Rd, going up the Bunnell Notch and Kilkenny Ridge Trails.

Cabot doesn't have the best of views, and with the clouds, had NO view at all on this hike. :( The hike up was steady but not really strenuous.  It took us 3 hours 5 min. to reach the Cabot Cabin. We had a break there and reached the summit about 12 min. later.  It is 4.8 miles from the trailhead to the viewless summit.  There used to be a fire tower near the cabin, and there is a viewpoint, but not on this hike.  :(  

The hike down Cabot heading towards The Bulge was a little rugged.  I would say it would be harder to come up Cabot from this direction. 

The Bulge is just a "blah" mountain, but we did stop there to have lunch.

Descriptions of this route said that The Horn had excellent views.  As we got closer to The Horn the weather started to clear.  And yes, The Horn does indeed have EXCELLENT views!  Even if Cabot had a clear view from the viewpoints, the view from The Horn would be far better!  I urge anyone who wants to hike Cabot to do this loop and take in the view from The Horn. :)  We spent 15-20 min. at The Horn before heading down and continuing on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail. 

It took us 1 hour 15 min., going 2 miles to reach Unknown Pond from The Horn. From the pond it was 3.3 miles back to the trailhead.  After leaving the pond you drop a fair amount of elevation, and the trail is kind of rough.  Later on it got easier, but had some muddy spots.  It took us 2 hours to complete this section of trail.

We met several people hiking up and down Cabot, but after the summit of Cabot, we didn't meet as many people, but still a few people were out on the trails beyond Cabot.

On our way back to Meredith, Jonathan treated me to a meal at the Woodstock Inn Brewery.  Very good food.  :)  

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