The so-called "4 / 48" mountaineering challenge was my hair-brained idea. When not managing the Town of Greenville or spending time with my family, I enjoy the challenge of climbing mountains (it makes Town Meeting seem easier). Having read of the adventures of mountaineers in the Whites who would "enchain" certain sets of mountains by ascending, descending, and ascending again a cluster of mountains from all sides, I thought "4 / 48" would be a good version of this technique in the sparsely-mountainous Maine Highlands region.Strategically, I chose to climb Borestone and BarrenMountains on Saturday (due to their proximity), to stay overnight in Greenville, and to then climb Big & Little Spencer Mountains the next day. The Spencers are about 1 ¼ hour's drive north from Greenville and are higher, colder, and steeper than Barren and Borestone. But the total mileage for hiking Barren and Borestone mountains is 11.5 miles round trip, vs. Spencers' 8 mile round trip. Little would be easy about this challenge.

Joining me were friends and colleagues from the region. Peter Wallace is an EMT at Mayo EMS and also works for a canoe maker in Atkinson. John Holden works for Eastern Maine Development Corporation in Bangor and continues to do extensive work for Piscataquis County and the Maine Highlands region. Jonathan Pratt is the Executive Director for the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce. Roger Merchant, an avid outdoorsman, works for the University of Maine's Cooperative Extension Service in Dover-Foxcroft. Joining the group for the last mountain on Sunday was Mark "the Shark" Young, morning announcer for WKIT-FM and long-time announcer for WMDE-FM.

The group met at the Borestone Mountain trailhead at 6:00 AM Saturday morning, and began the first climb. Borestone was beautiful that early Saturday morning, and its easy walking helped to loosen and stretch muscles which would be pushed to the limit by the end of the weekend. The west peak overlooking Onawa Lake, Onawa Trestle, and the shadow of larger Barren Mountain was reached within an hour, and within two hours we were back at the parking lot. Barren Mountain was climbed next, with numerous steep and rocky uphills but fantastic views from Barren Slide, Barren Ledges and finally the old fire tower platform at the 2,670 peak. We were back down by 3:00 PM and at my house for the evening meal, telling of tales, and a good night's rest by 5:00 PM.

Mountain climbing in PiscataquisCounty is different from other places. Our relatively high latitude creates rocky, alpine peaks after only minimal gains in altitude. All of the mountains we climbed were achievable day-hikes for the moderately in-shape, novice hiker. Yet the true challenge was to see if all four could be done in just two day's time. The world of extreme sports brought to our homes via satellite and cable TV shows athletes working together to traverse exotic terrain within a minimum period of time. None of us pretend to be super athletes.But we did each ask ourselves: do we have it within us each to climb four mountains in two days?

To successfully complete our task would take far more than just strong leg muscles and a good cardiovascular system. The trick of such a feat is to prepare your mind as much as your body as this is a test of endurance and a measurement of persistence: we would each reach physical limits along the way, and without putting ourselves in undue danger, would need to find a way to work through sore muscles and tired bodies and minds. Logistical planning of personal gear and food over two days, transportation and directions, personal and group safety, and most importantly, group dynamics and communication would all be necessary for each of us to succeed as part of the group.

Stronger athletes could spend the day in the gym and work as hard as we did on the trail, but it would not be the same challenge by any means. For example, it takes the average-sized person over 21,000 steps to make it to the top of Barren Mountain and back. You could spend an afternoon in a gym and walk as many steps on the Stairmaster. But you would not be faced with the heat, the cold, the wind or the rain that we faced on the mountain. And if you got tired and wanted to quit your hike in the gym, you're only a few steps away from a hot shower and your ride home. Once in the woods, you are committed. And your fellow hikers are your only help should you need it.

After a great spaghetti feed courtesy of my lovely wife Lisa, many tales were told of the day's adventure. There was Peter-the-Bear's spontaneous nap and snoring on Barren ledges within a few minutes of our arrival for lunch. Roger shared his many tales of previous adventures in the region, including many "can-you-tow-my-truck-from-the-mud-with-your-skidder?" requests in the Bodfish region. Jonathan, our youngest and fittest group member, didn't make it to my house for supper as he went home to change and instead fell sound asleep. John Holden found a much-appreciated Clint Eastwood classic on the TV while we enjoyed dinner, and regaled us with great lines all the next day. "There are two kinds of men in this world – the kind with a loaded gun and the kind with a shovel – I suggest you start digging".

The next morning found us at the trailhead to Big Spencer Mountain in East Middlesex Twp. by 7:30 AM. It was much colder than the previous day as we worked our way up the old tote road to the fire warden's cabin. This small building was the home to the former Fire Wardens and their families as they watched attentively for fires over the thousands of acres of woodland visible from the top. The State of Maine recently acquired Big Spencer Mountain through the first phase of the West Branch land conservation project. All of us agreed that this cabin has great potential as a shelter and sanctuary for day and overnight hikers alike, and hope a way can be found to secure funds and labor to fix it up, with the State's knowledge and permission, of course. Snowmobiles and ATVs also can make it as far as this cabin, as the note in the cabin from "ATV Girl" stated from the day previous. She said she nearly made it to the top – we kept lookout for her on our way, but never found her.

After summitting Big Spencer (elev. 3,230 ft.) and climbing its fire tower, we returned to our vehicle by 11:00 AM. The steep yet open tote road was a treacherous descent, but one which inspires the normally cautious downhill hiker to cut loose and run, letting gravity and momentum carry you down as fast as your stride (and good sense) will let you. Roger "Mountain Man" Merchant started us down this steep descent, letting out a wild yelp which kicked our strides out of gear and into a tumbling and bumbling scramble over rocks and stumps like a rockslide racing down a log sluice. No one ever fell and at the end we felt like we could have climbed the mountain all over again, just to get another shot at this Mountain Man Slalom.

After a 45 minute ride from Big Spencer Mountain to Little Spencer Mountain, we met up with Mark "the Shark" Young, who was patiently waiting for us. Mark and I have climbed Little Spencer twice before, and know it is the most difficult one of the four peaks. Although only two miles to the top, you must cross boulder and rock fields, pull yourself up through a 30' rock "chimney", and follow a steep and rocky trail which is greatly exposed on the edge of the 3,023' mountain. It is rated the most strenuous hike of all four mountains, and for good reason. We climbed with even greater determination, and with great respect for the challenge Little Spencer presents. The views of the greater Moosehead Lake Region were absolutely outstanding.

We peaked and then carefully returned to our vehicles by 4:00 PM, answering our initial question affirmatively and with conviction: YES, we can climb 4 mountains in not only 48, but even just 34 hours! All six of us, ranging in age from roughly 25 to 60 trips around the sun, now knew that we had done something others had never attempted, and most thought could not be done. Most importantly, we challenged ourselves and found we each had the right stuff to do more over a weekend then watch our rented movies and eat our store-bought pizza – we climbed, we summitted, and we were better persons because of it. And I was particularly pleased to have celebrated my 34th birthday with such a fine group of men who accomplished with ease the hardest task of any group, of any community: teamwork, trust, and work toward a common goal.

Now the only question is: can we climb five peaks in the same time next year?....

Respectfully Submitted;
John Simko
Piscataquis County Native