Jordan Pond and Sargent Mountain from Pemetic Mountain
Pemetic NW Trail climbs from the Bubbles parking area to high on the shoulder of Pemetic Mountain (where it ends at Pemetic North Ridge Trail a few tenth of a mile from the summit). It’s only a half mile, but climbs 700 feet. It’s not on the list though because it’s steep. It made the list because of the two ladders in the narrow canyon and the ladder climb low on the mountain.
The lower ladder
The lower ladder climbs a rock face using both a ladder and fallen trees. It looks kinda sketchy, but is fun and easy. My wife and I did it once in the winter. The entire mountainside was coated with a couple of inches of glare ice. Now, that made it interesting. We climbed from tree to tree and ignored the trail.
The first ladder
You come to a fork in the trail. To the left, the trail climbs some slabs with partial views. To the right, the trail ascends a narrow canyon. At its head is a ladder. To get your WW25 badge, go left. Above the first ladder, the canyon continues to a second ladder.
The second ladder
Neither ladder is attached to the rock, but are reasonably stable. I made the mistake of doing this hike in early spring once. The canyon was a river. It was impossible not to get soaked by the cold water. I guess that’s why the trail over the slabs exists.
Above the ladders, the climb is less steep. Not only are there views from the summit, but along Pemetic North Ridge Trail before it drops down to Bubble Pond.
Cadillac Mountain’s south ridge and Bubble Pond
I’m a big fan of loop hikes and try to avoid out and back hikes. There are lots of ways to turn a hike up Pemetic NW Trail into a loop. Another consideration is that the Bubble Parking area is usually full (and the Bubble Pond parking area is now just a bus stop). You can start a Jordan Pond House and hike Jordan Pond Path up the east side of the pond. Follow Jordan Pond Carry up to Bubbles parking area. Cross the street and you’re to Pemetic NW Trail. Atop Pemetic Mountain, follow its south ridge down to Bubble and Jordan Ponds Trail which will take you back to your car. Better yet, from the Pemetic’s summit follow the north ridge. Hike around the north end of Bubble Pond to Cadillac West Face Trail. Climb it (another WW25 trail). Then follow Cadillac south ridge to the Featherbed. Descend Bubble and Jordan Ponds Trail. It’s upper section almost made the WW25 list. You can also hike Pemetic NW Trail as part of a loop over North Bubble (this hike is described in Hiking Maine—it’s one of my favorites). If you’re a real gutton for punishment, you can do what Henry and I did last summer. We started at Jordan Pond House. First we climbed Jordan Cliffs Trail (also a WW25 hike), continued to Sargent Mountain on East Cliffs Trail. Descended south ridge to the pond. Dropped down to Jordan Pond on Deer Brook Trail. Climbed Bubble Divide Trail. Crossed the road to Pemetic NW Trail. Continued on to Cadillac West Face Trail and around as described above. That was an epic three WW25 hike route. You know your own limits and what kind of hike you enjoy—so hike your own hike (and share it with the rest of us on the WW25 Facebook page).