| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bigelow Mountain (Avery Peak), Bigelow Mountain (West Peak), Bigelow Mountain (South Horn), Bigelow Mountain (North Horn), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Stratton Brook Pond Road, Firewardens Trail, Bigelow Range Trail, North Horn Spur, Horns Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, September 13, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Stratton Pond Brook road in good shape to the larger parking area past the AT crossing. We drove all the way to the pond outlet on a sometimes very rough and narrow track with a couple of pretty good mud spots. Saw a Dodge Caravan that had made it that far as well |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
all crossings easily gotten across today though you can see where the Stratton Pond Outlet would be tricky in higher water |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Fire Warden Trail has an amazing series of steps. Horns Pond Trail may be the best maintained trail I have seen this year with amazing water bar work |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
saw none |
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 | Bugs: |
zero |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
gorgeous day for the Bigelows. Cool in the shade as we climbed up past the lovely Moosefalls Campsite where the privy got rave reviews. Pretty rapid ascent from there to the col on a very well constructed footway. beautiful on the ridge headed to Avery with the sedges and grasses starting to turn towards fall. A bit hazy in the distance but the views were good down to the impressive Flagstaff Lake and the mountains to the North. Very nice
..The ridge across to West Peak is pretty good going with some fine vistas along the way. Not much alpine zone on top of this very sharp peak but the views were fine. We followed the ridge down and around with some steeper ledge and some muddy spots along the way. Quick ascent to South Horn where we chatted with a thru hiker for a bit. The side trip to North Horn well worth the visit on a fine trailbed and a 360 view.
Fairly rough drop down to Horns Pond with some stair work. Another very organized campsite here..the MATC is doing quite a job in this area. Kudos!! The decent on Horns Pond Trail was lovely and interesting with a great footbed, many waterbars, some cool rock and a boggy area. Very nice woods..we enjoyed it alot. Congrats to Valerie for her first 2 Maine 4ks!!!! sure enjoyed chatting with the Horns Pond caretaker CJ (AT name Huff and Puff) who was starting up as we returned to the truck |
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 | Name: |
silverfox |
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 | E-Mail: |
marktaub@metrocastdotnet |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-09-13 |
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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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