Meeting Time: 10:00 AM

Max # People: 12

Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Pleasant Mountain is southern Maine’s tallest mountain standing at 2006 feet tall and is located within an hour drive of Portland, Maine.  The mountain contains nearly 10 miles of various trails managed by the Loon Echo Land Trust.  The summit rewards you with beautiful views of the surrounding Saco River valley and the White Mountains. Pleasant Mountain is an isolated, lengthy mountain mass that stretches about 4 miles on the north-south line of Bridgton and Denmark. The main summit is open and filled with ledges. The summit was once known as House Peak because it was home to a hotel from 1873 to 1907. The views from the main summit and Big Bald Peak are outstanding.  There are at least 6 trails heading up the mountain of varying lengths. 

PROPOSED ROUTE:  

Bald Peak to the summit is (roughly 2.2 miles)  - if the group decides to tackle Sue’s Way/North Ridge loop to  Pleasant’s northernmost peak it will add another 1.3 miles.   

After lunch we can either take Bald Peak down (total 2.4 miles) -or- we could take the Ledges Trail (1.8 miles down) – not as steep but we'd have to walk Mountain Road back to parking (adding approximately 2 miles).

TRAIL MAP: 

http://www.loonecholandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Pleasant_Mountain_Brochure_Map.pdf

WEB SITES:

http://www.loonecholandtrust.org/places-we-protect/preserves/pleasant-mountain-preserve/

ESSENTIALS:

• A backpack
• Lunch (we will eat at the summit) & snacks 
• Water & more water  (at least 2 liters)
• Hiking footwear with fairly stiff soles and good traction
• Dress in layers (rain gear not needed because we will cancel if rainy)
• Map of the hike (see the link above)
• Sunglasses
• Sun Screen
• Bug/Tick repellant
• First aid kit-- assemble one with what you have at home (bandages, gauze, tape, sanitizing gel, etc)
• See recommendations from GayOutdoors:
  • http://www.gayoutdoors.org/page.cfm?typeofsite=storydetail&id=992&storyset=yes

From Portland, follow Rte. 302 west to Bridgton and continue on Rte. 302 for roughly 5 miles. 
Turn left onto Mountain Road. and drive past Shawnee Peak Ski Area. 
Distance from Rte. 302 to the Bald Peak Trail is 1 mile.