To ski or not to ski was the question when planning the February 20 trip. My preference was to ski but an untimely freezing rain storm had limited the choices. As late as the day before, I still hadn’t decided. My son, Adam, motivated my final decision as he liked the idea of hiking Cranberry Peak, the western most summit in the Bigelow Range. About a 6.5 mile roundtrip hike from the winter trailhead at the end of Currie Road in Stratton, the 3,213 foot peak with a little over 2,000 feet of elevation gain is moderate in difficulty. It was snowing when four of us met at the trailhead. The usual debate about whether or not to wear or carry snowshoes raged. Three of us started out wearing them. By the time the trip was over, everyone was bare booting on the previously packed trail. The snowstorm abated and we enjoyed excellent hiking conditions for most of the trek. However, wind chills in the summit area were quite extreme limiting the time spent enjoying the truly phenomenal views that included a panoramic vista of frozen Flagstaff Lake. By the time we returned to the trailhead, it was snowing again.
Participants: Chowderheads Adam Chase, Deb Harris, and TC. Guest: Steve Anderson