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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Big Spencer Mountain, ME
Trails
Trails: Big Spencer Trail, bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 17, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Beavers are threatening to flood the dirt road leading to the trailhead. Also, one of the bridges looks a little beat up. One car still made it to the trailhead, presumably with care. No issues for vehicles with decent clearance. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Standing/Running Water on Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: A beaver has flooded the trail just before the steeps. Various herd paths go left to get around the pond. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Some scrambles and ladders. 
Bugs
Bugs: Minimal 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Found 1 gator in the bushwhack portion. 
 
Comments
Comments: Trail was a bit wet and slippery due to previous afternoon's rain. Somewhat moderate ATV road walk up to the site of the old fire warden's cabin, then relentlessly steep up to the ridge, with a few short wooden ladders.
Nice views from the ridge at the top of the trail, though lots of communications equipment and solar panels take away from the feel a bit. A new installation southwest of the old fire tower was particularly interesting, as a large plot was literally burned (looks like a swath was cut first), then a new set of panels and towers constructed.
From there, we bushwhacked southwest in less than savory spruce, eventually reaching the recognized highpoint. A quick read of the register, as well as a look from a nearby ledge, revealed that this is not the highpoint. Rather, it was perhaps another 2/10ths further southwest through more unsavory woods (some nice short mossy stretches, but lots of spruce and random little cliffbands...not the worst ever, but certainly not open woods). Stopped at what seemed to be the highest point (which after the fact looks like it corresponds with the highpoint on the USGS map), then bushwhacked over to a small, but nice view ledge.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-08-18 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/Maine/bigspencermtn.php 
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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