I have a fairly extensive collection of outdoor resources – books, guides, hyperlocal maps, and such. Besides maybe what is included in a few specialty out of print books, there is no sacred information on the tattered pages of my collection. I dare say, most of it could even be found with a few taps on a keyboard.

I like to absorb knowledge by studiously thumbing through books and flagging interesting point. There are numerous gentle pencil marks on maps I’ve studied for hours. Foraging resources, on the other hand, are heavily marked by region and season.

NOTE: Before foraging in the wild, be sure to have landowner permission. Just because access has been granted to a property does not me access is given to everything the property offers. Before eating any wild plant, be 100 percent certain it is edible. Do not rely on books or apps, rather find an expert to confirm identification.

I spend hours researching my destination, learning its history, environment, and challenges. I tend to study like this when setting out on a new adventure, filling my head with hours of research in exchange for a few hours on a trail.

When I first hiked Bald Mountain, it was no different. I suppose, depending on where you are in the state, the mention of ‘Bald Mountain’ could bring to mind any number of peaks.

According to “Mountains of Maine: Intriguing Stories Behind Their Names” by Steve Pinkham, there are at least 19 mountain in Maine that include “bald” in their names. The moniker typically refers to a “rocky, open, and rounded summit” Pinkham wrote.

This mountain was briefly home to Bald Mountain Ski Area, according to the New England Ski History website. On December 4, 1959, after successful fundraising efforts, work commenced on land leased from International Paper Company.

“In 45 days time, an access road and 400 car parking lot were built, a train station dragged in for a lodge, a trail cut, and an 800 foot rope tow constructed,” NESH website states.

With much fanfare, the ski area opened for business at the end of  January 1960. Despite the addition of night skiing, ski jumps, ice skating, a larger parking lot and new trails, the ski area was overshadowed by bigger improvements at nearby Saddleback. By 1969, the area was shuttered. It is believed that the T-bar was disassembled and parts used for T-bar 1 at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington.

Pinkham explained that in the 1800’s, when the sporting camps and resort hotels were full of recreational tourist, “the men would go fishing while the wives and children stayed back at camp.” When the weather allowed, those left behind would gather a picnic lunch and a pair of binoculars and climb to the summit. At the top, they would “look down on the nearby lakes and attempt to get a glimpse of their husbands’ or fathers’ boats”.

If you’ve ever climbed to the summit of Oquossoc’s Bald Mountain, you know what Pinkham referred to. If you haven’t yet climbed this local gem, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!

With a 2,443 foot elevation, the summit of Bald Mountain is a popular destination due to the astounding 360-degree views offered from the Observation Tower on the peak. It is not uncommon to find families enjoying the moderate, wooded, blue-blazed trails and granite peak picnic areas – many even bring the family dog along for the adventure.

Choose between two trailheads for either a 2.4 or 4.4-mile round trip hike. I opted for the shorter hike, departing from the parking area on Bald Mountain Road. The longer alternative is to start at the trailhead located in the Haines Landing Boat Launch parking area on Route 4. The trails connect about a mile from the Route 4 trailhead and 800 feet from the Bald Mountain Road trailhead.

Do not let a full parking area deter you from making the trek. Keep in mind that while peak times are weekend days, the mountain has a large open summit and many miles of trails. Even on days when the parking lot is overflowing, the trails and summit do not feel overly crowded.

The first half of the hike is steady with a gain in elevation that is so slight it is barely noticeable. The second half is moderate with plenty of granite boulders, ledge outcroppings and roots to navigate. There is usually an alternate route around more difficult or challenging obstacles, so be sure to take time to investigate slight trail variances.

After approximately .8 miles, the forest will begin to open and offer glimpses of the view that awaits you at the summit. Shortly after these first teasing views, the trail takes a sharp left at a large moss-covered granite wall and, once again, the trail levels out. All that’s left is to cross a few footbridges and suddenly open sky replaces the shade of trees.

The 30-foot observation tower, built in 1999, offers panoramic views of the Rangeley area topography. Hikers can take in views of Rangeley, Cupsuptic and Mooselookmeguntic Lakes as well as Saddleback Mountain, Elephant Mountain and Height of Land. On a clear day, even New Hampshire’s Mount Washington can be seen.

Things to know: Appropriate footwear is important. Both the leaf-strewn wooded trail and the granite upper trail can be very slippery when wet. Tree roots are perfect for stubbing toes. Protective footwear should be worn on this hike.