| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Katahdin (Baxter Peak) (attempt), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail, Abol Stream Trail Connector, Abol Stream Trail, Tote Road, Hunt Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, April 15, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked beside Golden Road near Abol Bridge, no other cars |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Abol Stream Trail flooded in one short section about 50 ft long (too deep for boots), bypassed it along narrow bank of Abol Stream |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Only the flooded portion of Abol Stream Trail |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs observed, ice at higher elevations would be too difficult |
|
 | Bugs: |
Almost none |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Lots of blue plastic, including some large pieces shed from snowmobiles on the snowmobile routes ! Yuck ! |
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 | Comments: |
Was below freezing from Abol Bridge to near Treeline on a Bluebird Day. Wore new Microspikes the whole way & new trekking poles, never needed the 12 pt Crampons or Ice Axe I carried.
Lower elevations from Abol Bridge to a little past Katahdin Falls had variable trail conditions- some flooding on a short portion of Abol Stream Trail, bare frozen ground, sections and patches of ice and snow up to a few inches thick. Abol Pond to Tote Rd had sections of ice and consolidated snow. Many sections of Tote Rd were covered with up to 2" ice. Didn't see any other people. Katahdin Stream Campground had almost no snow/ice on ground. On Hunt Trail, as elevation increased after Katahdin Falls, increasing ice and consolidated snow to near treeline; many sections had very thick ice and running water on surface of ice in some places. Some sections may have had as much as 6"or more firm consolidated snow. But new Kahtoola Microspikes handled it all, never considered switching to crampons. Turned back just below treeline.
Didn't see any land animals larger than a racoon, except for 2 deer on Golden Rd. Did see very fresh 6+" Moose prints on Tote Rd. |
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 | Name: |
Sota |
|
 | E-Mail: |
igyear at aol d com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-05-15 |
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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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