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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Pleasant Mountain, Big Bald Peak, ME
Trails
Trails: Mountain Road, Ledges Trail, Bald Peak Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: At 1325, two cars were parked at the Bald Peak Trail lot (plenty of space for others). Seven cars were parked at the Ledges Trail lot, with room for 2-3 more. One car there parked on the side of the road.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: At around 0.4 miles up (my best guess) the Ledges Trail, there is a short stretch with 4-6" deep puddles/standing water and mud on the trail, but these were easy to walk right through.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Saw a couple of dogs and their human at the summit. Most water is down low on these trails, so be sure to bring some for your pup! 
Bugs
Bugs: Saw one moth-like insect near the Ledges Trail lookout. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I felt the itch to go for an afternoon hike on this lovely fall day, and having never hiked Pleasant Mountain, it seemed a worthy destination. I was in the mood for a loop, so at 1325 I parked my car at the Bald Peak Trail parking lot, and then walked 1.5 miles on Mountain Road to the Ledges Trail head and lot, which took about 20 minutes. Not a lot of car traffic on Mountain Road, which made for a pleasant warm-up. Started up the Ledges Trail at around 1340, which got the heart rate going. Stopped at the lookout at 0.8 miles, and soaked in the views to the south and east. I was on the summit of Pleasant Mountain by around 1500, and enjoyed a late lunch and the views to the north and west for about an hour. At around 1600, I started my descent down the Big Bald Peak Trail, cruising over the top of Big Bald Peak as the sun was dropping below the horizon. Twilight soon turned into full-on darkness when I reached the short spur to the Needles' Eye, which is when I put on my headlamp. The Needles Eye (a tight rock chasm with a mountain stream running through it, about 0.4 miles above the Bald Peak Trail head) was cool to check out, especially in the darkness. I accidentally got off the trail and onto what I believe is a snowmobile trail running north-south close to the bottom; I knew something was up when the trail widened and there was a rubber tire lying on the ground to my left -- not the type of thing you usually see on land trust land! I quickly rerouted and got back on trail. I was back at my car by around 1700, satisfied with the afternoon's adventure.  
Name
Name: Night Ranger 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-11-09 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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