Whenever I flail around looking for anyone to hike in Evans Notch with me, only the most adventurous respond. For the Wheeler Brook trail (Gilead), the only taker? Sam, whose trip reports I have read and utilized for years. I could not be more thrilled. I knew with Sam, not only would we hit every blaze, we would check out the waterfalls off-trail.
We planned to leave one car at the 113 gate and one at the wide shoulder at Rt 2. At 730am, we started snowshoeing south from Rt 2. “Ideal snowshoeing conditions”, the snow still crunchy on top so we hardly sank. The trail starts on a gated logging road, blazed yellow for its entire length (but many blazes faded or blending into the bark).
Sure enough, half mile from the northern trailhead on Rt 2, Sam led me to the waterfall and flume 15 or 20 feet off-trail. As Sam says, for folks who do not want to do the full trail, the unmarked waterfalls are a worthwhile attraction.
When hiking Wheeler Brook southbound, hikers hit 4 stream crossings in the first 1.5 miles or so, and numerous water bars and rivulets on top of that. Water levels are low at the moment and snow bridges have melted. Rockhopping in snowshoes it was!
At every stream and water bar dip, we found ourselves hoisting our bodies up steep snowy banks. A natural athlete, Sam handled this with ease. Me? A terrified baby otter, a new level of desperation knowing I must pass every test.
This trail does not cross the summit of Peabody. It still gains 1350ft in 2.1 miles and crests on the viewless shoulder of Peabody. The advantage of tackling this in the leafless woods is that descending southbound, I caught satisfying glimpses of the Royces and Wild River Valley.
Descending Peabody southbound is also the trickiest spot to navigate. The blazes have not been repainted for some time once over the crest. Aided by a log, a bonus stream crossing awaits on this south side.
We stopped at the Little Larry Brook bridge and lunched before heading to the car on 113. Hard to believe the water rose so high that it wedged debris in the new Roost bridge. Sam noticed lots of repairs needed on 113 and expects it to open later rather than sooner.
I have struggled with Evans Notch and 2.5 hour drives to its empty trails. It is the Lost Kingdom of Western Maine, an adventure lover’s paradise. I can appreciate that element more when hiking with someone else.
Maine: The Way Life Turned Out 