A Day at Mount Abraham
Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust staff and board continued the organization’s fall tour with a recent site visit to Mount Abraham, home to Maine’s largest alpine area outside of Baxter State Park. It’s also the location of MATLT’s forever wild conservation easement which covers 1,215 acres around the three summits of this long mini-mountain range. There are three distinct alpine communities that provide habitat for five rare plant species, and a wealth of natural wonders.
The main route to the summit, the Fire Warden’s Trail, can be accessed from West Kingfield Road in Kingfield – it feeds into Rapid Stream Road, off of which there is a small parking area. Rapid Stream Road is difficult to maintain but is currently in good shape and can be used by any vehicle (if you drive slowly!). The Fire Warden’s Trail was once a jeep trail to the warden’s cabin, where the fire warden was housed beginning in 1924, when a tower was built on the summit. The only evidence of any of this from the past is the metal support structure for the tower, which remains on the summit (where it is tipped over). The warden’s cabin is now a Maine Appalachian Trail Club campsite, complete with a privy.
The Fire Warden’s Trail continues from the campsite and ascends to the summit through a large alpine zone, including a Diapensia Alpine Ridge area which is one of only three such locations in all of Maine. These resources are one of the many reasons MATLT acquired this conservation easement and is proud to steward these lands today. Mount Abraham is one of Maine’s finest day hikes and public access to this summit is an important outdoor recreation resource. There’s still time before the snow flies to head up to this 4,000-footer!
