Baldpate Mountain - West Peak - Appalachian Trail - 11-12-2011

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Baldpate Mountain - West Peak, ME

	Trails:	Appalachian Trail

	Date of Hike:	Saturday, November 12, 2011

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Large lot on Rte 26 - pretty full with groups heading up the baldplates and old speck

	Surface Conditions:	Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth

	Recommended Equipment:	Light Traction

	Water Crossing Notes:	A number of small streams easily crossed on rocks

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	One sign has come down (2nd set of signs) - placed on a stump; A couple of walk unders above juncion with Table rock trail that might be a problem with deeper snow in winter, one stepover above the lean to. Spots that could use water bars or better some bog bridges given deep mud

	Dog-Related Notes:	A nice hike for the canines - steeps below west peak with ice might make a trek off trail safer for them

	Bugs:

	Lost and Found:	Lost a hat and found it on the way down - thanks to those who left it hanging on a branch!


	Comments:	Cloudy skies and some wind but still great views - met a number of people coming down and coming over from East peak. Mud and water everywhere - this is the wettest and muddiest hike I've taken in quite a while - waterproof boots and gaiters essential gear on this hike - you're getting wet and muddy on this trip until things freeze up! Dry trail with some muddy spots below junction with table rock trail - mud heading up beyond this with some nasty mud pits as you cross height of land around hedgehog hill. Usual deep mud pits right before trail to lean to. Heading up steep section on west peak lower part has many stretches that are pretty much a stream - hard to avoid puttng boots in the water. A bit of ice in places on the ledges but OK with bare boots for first half or 2/3rds - trail relocation up higher is amazing - nice rock steps - kudos to those who put this in - a much nicer approach now! Traces of snow for last .5 mile or so - Ice on some of the ledges in places make footing a bit tricky in a few places in this stretch except for last .1 mile below summit - where trail is basically an ice floe - traction helpful though if you go off to the edges you could do it with bare boots. Spoke with a group coming back from East peak and they indicated that heading down off west peak they dealt with ice on the rock ledges and needed tractio. They said ledges heaing up east peak were better.

	Name:	Brian from Maine

	E-Mail:	brobert1@maine.rr.com

	Date Submitted:	2011-11-12

	Link:	https://
		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.