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July, 2007
Exploring the Highlands
Hiking Trip Report: Round Top
By Albert Carpentier
Anyone who has spent time enjoying the outdoors knows it can become addicting. You keep looking forward to that next hike, canoe trip or outing. So after being stuck in my cubicle all week at the office I was in serious need for some outdoor time. The small picnic table out back just was not cutting it.
Finally Saturday morning came and I loaded up my pack and drove a few minutes north to the Kennebec Highlands west of Belgrade Lakes. Off of Watson Pond Road I found the trailhead I was looking for - the trailhead for Round Top. The Kennebec Highlands includes several trails over a few different mountains. The sky was gray and there was a good chance that it would begin to rain at some point during the day. While lacing up my hiking boots I reflected that I would rather be rained on in the woods than be trapped back at the fluorescent lit office.
The trail is marked with blue blazes and is pretty easy to follow. It winds along and through granite boulder and rock formations on and off over the course of the 1.7 mile walk to the summit. The information board at the trailhead states that the first area of rocks encountered at about a quarter of a mile up the trail were the site of a quarry. There is still evidence that the granite has been carved and split.
After meandering through the woods for a mile the trail crosses the Kennebec Highlands trail. This larger trail connects many various trails. The inclining grade becomes more noticeable as the summit to Round Top gets closer. The trail has been well maintained and near the summit a rock staircase has been constructed that goes up and around a large boulder. I had passed a family on the hike in and hoped that this feature had grabbed the imaginations of the kids in the group.
I checked out the view from the northwest spur and then made my way to the main summit. Trees had been cleared to allow views of the area lakes and ponds. Despite the gray haze from the impending storm the view stretching out before me was rewarding. Hearing my boots crunching on the trail and the birds singing was much better than hearing office sounds like the constant clicking of keyboards and phone conversations.
I got my outdoors fix from this hike and am already planning a longer hike that incorporates exploring more of the mountains and ponds in the area. Pictures from the trip will go up on my cubicle walls to motivate me for further exploration.
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