Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Bigelow Mountain (Avery Peak), Bigelow Mountain (West Peak), Bigelow Mountain (South Horn), Bigelow Mountain (North Horn), ME |
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| Trails: |
Stratton Brook Pond Road, Fire Wardens Trail, Appalachian Trail, North Horn Spur |
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| Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 18, 2015 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Only room for 2 cars at the plowed end of Stratton Pond Brook Rd, take care not to block driveways or snowmobile trail. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
All bridged or frozen |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Many blowdowns along AT between West Peak and junction with Bigelow
Range Trail. We cleared a handful. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Stratton Brook Pond Rd well packed by snowmobiles. Bare booted to summer trailhead and then put on snowshoes. Trail had seen recent traffic (thanks Evan) but soft and drifted in enough to warrant snowshoes. AT from Bigelow col has deep drifted snow until treeline, then mix of ice, rock and wind-scorn snow to both 4K summits. Beyond West peak, the AT had no evidence of recent travel. Once in the trees (headed towards the Horns), there was excellent snowshoeing in deep powder (1-2 feet). Corridor was clear and easy to follow though there were many blowdowns to navigate around. At the Horns, we saw evidence of days old tracks from Horns Pond - a bit drifted in. Below Horns Pond (on the AT) to next junction, there were many many blowdowns. Had to hunt for the trail here and there. Trail conditions on the AT improved significantly below the junction with the Bigelow Range Trail back down to the road.
Beat the storm and had great views from Avery & West. Very cool to see the clouds building behind Sugarloaf then spilling over into the valley. |
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| Name: |
Jeff & Karine |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-01-18 |
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| Link: |
https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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