| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bigelow Mountain (South Horn), Bigelow Mountain (North Horn), Bigelow Mountain (West Peak), Bigelow Mountain (Avery Peak), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Firewardens Trail, Horns Pond Trail, Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 10, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Stratton Brook Pond fine to drive to first parking lot (which has room for 8-10 vehicles), though there was one deep unavoidable pool of standing water--I was in 4x4 vehicle. It is narrow, and when another car came in other direction we had to drive into the brush to get by each other.
You can drive another .3 mi to the last parking lot by the pond in 4x4, though a few deep ruts and a blowdown hanging overhead that would have scratched a high vehicle, did see a sedan that made it down there, but also saw where it had scratched its underside on the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
After doing short road walk to Stratton Pond parking area you have to go across a fairly wide inlet of the pond. There were plenty of rocks arranged to cross, though you occasionally had to step on submerged ones. Might be problematic after major rain events. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Bugs in Maine? Of course! Though this was a solo hike, I had their constant company. Mosquitos aggressive down low even biting through my shirt. On every summit area there were massive swarming wasp creatures to spoil the fun. If you stood fifty feet from the main swarm they seemed fine, until several dive bombed me on west peak and one flew into my mouth on Avery--a quick extraction prevented sting. Black flies out pretty strong in the afternoon above 3000 feet. Upon return to the low areas, the mosquitoes were even worse, I was doing the jog and brush arms every step strategy. Usually had a bloody smear with every third step. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A great hike and overall dry and good footing, even though rocky in spots, there is a lot of stone stepping and flat spots to step as opposed to slabs.
I went up the "Iron Triangle" going Horn's Pond first, which is moderate slope. A few nice scenic open boggy area gave views to South Horn. Summits had awesome views today south to maine 4k's and north to Katahdin. See bug notes above for why I couldn't stop and enjoy them or food. Firewarden Trail is very steep in upper mile, even steeper than upper Ammo Trail or going up Wildcat A, but with better rock stepping so great footing. Going down it was no issue unless you have knee problems.
I have always heard of the Bigelows as a great ridge hike, and though it is true you are on a ridge, you only have about .4 miles with views and above treeline stuff so that reputation is a bit misleading. Saddleback and the Horn via the AT was way more impressive. 13.1 mi with spur to North Horn and 4200' gain. Only people I saw today were on the AT, no one on either approach trail. |
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 | Name: |
John in NH |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-06-11 |
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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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