| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bigelow Mountain (Avery Peak), Bigelow Mountain (West Peak), Bigelow Mountain (South Horn), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Firewardens Trail, Appalachian Trail, Horns Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 8, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Was able to drive to the summer trailhead on the Stratton Brook Pond Rd. At this point neither high clearance nor 4-wheel drive is necessary on the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Ice - Blue, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Stratton Brook Pond was easily rock hoppable. All others were minor or iced over. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One crawl under blowdown on the Firewarden's trail. One blowdown on the AT between West Peak and S Horn. Six blowndowns on the Horns Pond trail (nothing major). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The lower sections of both the Firewarden's and Horns Pond trail had just a dusting of snow. It was icy so I wore microspikes from the car to just below S Horn. Above Moose Falls tentsite, snow depth increased to 3-4" to the col. In the steep section above the tentsite, there were long sections of ice flows, covered with fluffy snow which made them very slippery. My old microspikes were fine, with care, but had I descended this section I would have switched to Hillsounds or actual crampons as my microspikes would not have cut it.
The most snow encountered were the climbs to both Avery and West peaks, just below treeline, where there were drifts of between 1-2' for short periods. The ridgewalk between West Peak and S Horn was between 3-5" of snow. Since I carried snowshoes, I put them on for the final climb as I was sliding just a little too much in my microspikes. I stayed in them for the descent to the pond but that was iffy as there really wasn't enough snow for them. Changed into Hillsounds for the descent of the Horns Pond trail expecting more ice but it never materialized and they were soon overkill too. Back at the Firewarden's trail, I changed back into microspikes for the walk out.
Back at my truck, I saw a couple of robins-spring can't be far away! |
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 | Name: |
MikeL |
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 | E-Mail: |
larossm@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-01-08 |
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 | Link: |
 https://picasaweb.google.com/116539480037520529411/BigelowsSHorn?authkey=Gv1sRgCITe6qGWks3gmwE |
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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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