My Fitbit logged 348 stairs and 26,506 steps.

This was a fabulous if pretty strenuous hike. The trail is very steep in the beginning and then meanders up and down through fairytale-like forest. Very beautiful. Then, you step out of the forest and are at the summit. This surprised me since all other mountains usually have bare, rocky peaks. To get a panoramic view above the treeline, you can climb a metal viewing tower (sorry to say that I chickened out – the long metal ladder literally goes straight up, and I felt too weak and queasy to pull it off). You still have great views at a few spots on your way up and on the top of the mountain despite the treeline.

I parked at Grafton State Park trailhead. I had originally thought that there was a separate parking for the Appalachian Trail Head, but the big parking lot at Grafton State Park, starts right off with the AT (GPS: 1941 Bear River Rd., Newry, ME).

Great hike – next time, I may be mentally ready to climb that last ladder all the way up 😉