Ascension

Ascension is a ski touring route in Maine, set at a high point of 2,555 feet. It is an out-and-back climb of about 1.4 miles, with a total elevation gain of 1,144 feet, and the route starts and ends at that high point. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.37 miles, where the grade reaches 29 percent. The nearest town is Daaquam, about 20 miles away. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Clayton Lake, which sits well below the summit, show January highs around 20°F with lows near -4°F. That station's figures run cooler than conditions on the summit, so expect colder temperatures up high. Ski de montagne, another ski touring route, lies about half a mile away. Hikers can reach Sentier De La Traversée at about 0.7 miles and Sentier De La Crête Des Grives at about 0.8 miles. Sentier Des Ravages is roughly a mile off.