Penobscot County Highpoint Trip Report
East Turner Mtn (2,456 ft)
Date: June 20, 2006
Author: Michael Schwartz
Charlie Zerphy's report of November 2005 is still valid. Rocky Pond Road can be
followed to a point due east of East Turner (ET), and then the rough logging
road he mentioned heads due west and ends about 750 feet northeast of spot
elevation 1187. At that point you are about 1.14 miles from the summit of ET.
The long ride in (over 24 miles one way from the highway at Millinocket) is
well-described in Cliff Young's 2003 report but it is still tricky, with lots of
opportunities for wrong turns. In dry weather, the entire way could be driven
in a passenger car but it would be nerve-wracking. High clearance is the way to
go. The ugly cinderblock building he mentions has been replaced by a Gulf
Station/convenience store. Our mileage varied just enough from Cliff's to make
us nervous. At 7.1 miles, stay right (straight) at a fork. Near the Kelloch
Mountain junction, there is an unsigned road going off to the right and then the
Kelloch Mountain Road, signed now only by a homemade job, bears right 0.1 mile
later. The road you want, Rocky Pond Road, also handmade-signed, bears right
another 0.1 mile further. So, at the 13+ mile point, take the third of three
substantial roads that bear right. Once on Rocky Pond Road, we saw only
occasional mile markers and no postings at the side roads. Somewhere in this
area we also saw the only gate of the day, a very substantial one that if
closed, would end the day many miles from the trailhead. I should note we also
saw no signs of any impending Baxter Park takeover of the area.
Don't waste time trying to follow the roads as shown on the topo, or even
Delorme. Use Cliff's directions and follow your nose. The 2005 Delorme shows
the extension of Rocky Pond Road and even the spur logging road that gets you
closest to ET. The 2003 edition does not.
Once you cross the substantial bridge over Katahdin Brook, the extended road is
visible ahead going straight uphill. Follow it another 2.3 miles and turn left
into the good quality final logging road.
From the logging collection area at the end, numerous drag lanes head uphill.
We went up the one to the left, milking it for elevation but on the descent we
ended up intersecting and coming back on the one to the right. The actual hike
was pretty miserable. Lots of undergrowth and a long section high on the
mountain of boulders, moss, and very thick spruce. Insects were numerous and hungry.
We wandered around the summit a bit and liked a boulder near a fairly
large opening as the highpoint. No views worth mentioning.
For the descent, our vehicle was at a bearing of 80 degrees from the summit and
I followed that bearing, compass in hand, all the way down, verifying our
progress with GPS a few times. When we intersected an overgrown drag lane,
we followed that directly to the SUV, as all the lanes converge at the
collection area.
Final notes:
We reconnoitered the entire drive from Millinocket the day before,
so we got our wrong turns out of the way a day early. It was nice to drive in
the next day and know the route. Saw moose on the access road and lots of
pellets but no animals on the mountain. No sign of bear or scat.
Challenge: Who is going to be first to traverse this peak,
preferably downhill from South Turner?