Pleasant Mountain

By ANDREW RUSSELL

Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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Trail name: Pleasant Mountain, Bald Peak Trail Nearest town: Denmark Region: Western Lakes and Mountains Length: 5 mile loop Difficulty: Intermediate Elevation: 2,006 feet Directions: Take Route 302 and turn at the Shawnee Peak sign on to Mountain Road. The trailhead is about 0.1 mile down the road from Shawnee Peak East (not the main ski area) and starts as an old woods road. Maps: Get driving directions from MapQuest. View a topo map from Maptech MapServer.

This 2,006-foot mountain has several peaks and doubles as a ski area in winter, with views of the Lakes Region and Mount Washington. A favorite 5-mile circuit of mine is to climb the Bald Peak Trail to Big Bald Peak, then follow the ridge line south to the summit and fire tower. The climb is steep in spots, but short. Take the Ledges Trail down to Mountain Road and walk the 1.5 miles back to the car. This way offers excellent views towards Moose Pond. You can use either trail for a shorter round-trip hike to the summit. Both trailheads are off Mountain Road, but are hard to find. Consult the AMC guide or DeLorme's Maine Gazetteer. To get there take Route 302 and turn at the Shawnee Peak sign.

ANDREW RUSSELL is an editor for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He can be reached at (207) 791-6380 or at: arussell@pressherald.com.