Date Hiked: 8/26/2007

Conditions: Here are directions from the intersection of Maine Rt. 16 west of Rangeley and Morton Cutoff Road. 1) From Maine Rt. 16 drive north on Morton Cutoff Rd 3.2 miles to a T intersection with Lincoln Pond Rd. 2) Turn right on Lincoln Pond Rd and immediately take a left onto Burnt Mountain Rd. at mile 3.3 3) Follow Burnt Mountain Rd. past an unmarked road on the left at 4.0 miles, another at 4.4 miles on the right, and bear left at a T intersection at 4.8 miles. 4) Stay on Burnt Bountain Rd., pass Pit Rd. on the left at 5.9 miles, an unnamed road on the left at 6.9 miles, through an S curve with a clearing on both sides of the road at 7.7 miles. 5) At 8.2 miles bear right at an intersection. A stream will be on your left. On some maps the road name may change to Cupsuptic Tote Rd. Pass "T" Rd. at 10.0 miles on your right. 6) Bear left at 11.3 miles at a Y intersection, pass a grassy road on the left at 11.5 miles, and a clearing at 11.9 miles on the left. 7) Continue north on Cupsuptic Tote Road and turn right onto East Branch Road which is marked at 12.9 miles. Bear left at an interstection at 13.1 miles. 8) Pass an active logging yard at 14.2 miles. 9) Continue uphill and northeast until the road ends for normal vehicle traffic at 15.1 miles. This is at approximately elevation 2700. The road continues northeast but is in very rough shape. Follow the rough road for about 10 or 15 minutes until it ends at a clearing on the left. This is at about the 2867 elevation mark on the USGS topographic map. At this point take a bearing to the northwest toward the saddle between Mt. Snow and the 3200-foot peak to the west. Red flagging marked the route through open forest to the saddle. From the sadde you will have a clear view of Snow to the ENE. Follow your compass bearing toward the summit. You will encounter a wall of young spruce at around 3300 feet. We found easier going to the right. We eventually found a herd path which led to the summit. On your way down you can follow the herd path but be carefull to leave it before the path goes too far to the north or else you will wind up in the logging roads that connect to Wiggle Brook Road. Follow you compass bearing back to the saddle and then use the flagging or follow your bearing back to the road. We found that East Branch Road does not continue much past 2800 or 2900 feet. The USGS topo map shows it ascending to 3300 feet. I would be wary of descending the mountain on a bearing to find this road since it is probably little more than a very overgrown path.

Special Required Equipment: Bug dope; a compass or GPS unit AND maps. Since the roads on the USGS topo map are based on 1984 air photography they are quite out of data. I would still use them but augment them with printing air photographs from Windows Local Live; they show the current road network rather well. The roads on the Delorme Atlas are also up to date but at not that good of a scale to navigate in the woods.

Comments: We fould a moose skeleton in our travels, rather cool! The raspberries were also in season.

Submitted by: BagpiperJohn