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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Katahdin - Hamlin Peak, ME
Trails
Trails: Chimney Pond Trail, North Basin Trail, Hamlin Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, January 25, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Golden Road very icy - but drivable with caution. The parking area @ Abol Bridge is pure ice - need traction as soon as you get out of the car - and so is the short trek to the TH. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction, Ice Axe 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No issues anywhere. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A couple of smaller blowdowns on the lower section of the Hamlin Ridge tr. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Skied/walked in to Roaring Brook the day before the hike and out again the day after.

The 1/23 storm produced about 8" of snow in the area followed by heavy rain which consolidated it down to 4" with 1/2" crust on top. Snow-mobile traffic has broken it up all the way to Chimney Pond (via Abol Stream and the Tote Road pass the Togue Pond Gatehouse). Good conditions for pulling sleds and it is perfectly walkable without any traction. Difficult to ski - crunchy surface - downhill sections very fast.

North Basin tr. and Hamlin Ridge tr. to tree-line got broken out by a group of 5 ahead of me. They turned around at tree-line - planning to go for the summit the next day. So, that section should have seen a far amount of travel by now but I was the only one using snowshoes. I left my snowshoes at tree-line and switched to Hillsounds. It is boney and icy above tree-line. Very hard ice. Spikes insufficient - be sure to bring crampons. Hillsounds were okay with caution. The first couple of hundred yards above tree-line are the most difficult and potentially most dangerous. I did not use my axe but it is worth bringing just for that section.  
Name
Name: LongMark 
E-Mail
E-Mail: perfrost@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-01-27 
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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