Frosty on Top of Chick Hill
On February 20th, Frosty and I headed to Chick Hill. We had been to Chick Hill in January for a night hike with the Bangor Outdoor Club. On that hike, we went up Little Chick Hill for the first time. We went back today to see it in the daylight.
Someone Had Fun Sliding down the Trail
We took the trail that leads off from the parking lot into the woods. It is a short, but steep climb up Little Chick. The trail was well travelled, and the snow was firmly packed. We wore our microspikes. I didn’t sink at all going uphill.
View of Chick Hill from Little Chick Hill
There are a couple open viewpoints on the way to the top of Little Chick. During the day, you could easily see the windmills lining the spine of a nearby ridge. Frosty pointed out Borestone, White Cap, Barren, and Chairback Mountains. We popped out onto a ledge that had a view of Chick Hill before heading down Little Chick.
Frosty Checks out the View
We took the trail down the other side of Little Chick toward Chick Hill. The trail down was steep. I sunk a little on the descent. I stayed mostly to the side of the trail, so as not to destroy it. This also gave me more snow to stop my steps up.
In a Few Places the Trail Was Marked by Strips of Fabric
After getting down Little Chick, there is a pretty flat section of trail in the col between the hills. Once you start heading up, it is steep, but again, short. Heading back up the trail my feet sank very little, if at all. More of this trail is out in the open, and the wind was definitely making its presence known.
A Small Brook Runs Through the Col
After the Brook the Trail Heads Up
On our last hike here, this part of the trail was very icy with little snow. Today, there was a shallow, wind packed layer of snow on the ledges.
Still Going Up. The Trail Was Packed Down
Once we reached the top, we put on layers to keep warm while checking out the view. There are great views here, but even with my layers I didn’t want to linger too long. The wind was making my eyes water.
The View from the Top of Chick Hill
Looking the Opposite Direction
We took the road down. The road was an easy walk. Since snowmobiles use it in the winter, it was all packed down. Some sections of the road though, depending on the direction, were facing into the wind. I knew we’d be back to the parking area soon, so I didn’t bother to put on layers. I just sped up my pace.
A Short But Steep Hike
The sun came out during our hike. When the wind wasn’t blowing, you could feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. It was wonderful. The snow sparkled in the sunshine. It was great to get outside, enjoy the outdoors, and see Little Chick during the day.
Roadside Icicles
