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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Goose Eye Mountain, Mt. Carlo, ME
Trails
Trails: Goose Eye Trail, Mahoosuc Trail, Carlo Col Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 31, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: As reported by LeftyE, Success Pond Road is in pretty good shape. Miles 0-3 have been recently graded, the initial hill is a bit washboarded and covered with small rock, but not an issue, the rest is in better shape than a lot of paved roads by me... Miles 3-6 were a bit rougher, with some boulders sticking up here and there, but all easily dodged on one side of the road or the other. One minor bump that low-clearance cars will want to slow for, but won't impede progress. Also a culvert with one end exposed (now in a serious ditch, and also marked off with a cone and some flagging) that was fine on the other end. Miles 6-8.1 (my trailhead today) were in good shape. Some spots out past the 3 mile mark seemed to have had some spot-grading. Overall, I was able to comfortably average nearly 20mph in my low-clearance car (25min to do the 8.1mi), versus the barely 10mph I was able to maintain last year at this time. Active logging appears to have been going on. Several loaded logging carts staged at the start of the road, and a few more on a side road a ways in. No work going on on Saturdays I guess? The road is fairly easy to find if you use the AMC description and watch for the ATV Trails signs from just South of Berlin over the bridge. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: A few of the lower crossings on both trails took some thinking, but ultimately only required stepping in an inch or two of water. The upper Carlo Col Trail (below the shelter) is also a streambed that you walk in, but didn't require stepping in water. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Goose Eye Trail was extremely muddy down low after entering the woods after the logging road, up until near the state line. Very eroded from there, a couple scattered 4-6" step-over blowdowns. No real markers on the upper ledges to mark the trail, but going up is effectively the right route. The state line signpost was missing whatever sign used to be stapled to it. Mahoosuc Trail was typical of the Mahoosuc Trail. Rough, wet, a bit muddy in a few spots, rooty, and a couple small step-overs, but not hard to follow. The ladder looks solid and the steel rungs were fine too. The Carlo Col Trail is rough in the upper section, as it is IN a streambed for a while. Crosses the stream many, many times too (none particularly tricky in here). Down low, a bit muddy in a few places, but not terrible. A couple scattered 4-6" step-overs, nothing major. Overall the trail was in pretty decent shape. A few water bars that could stand to be dug out a little was about it. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any on the trails, I imagine the rungs/ladder section would be tough for them, but there may have been routes through the woods I didn't see. Saw 4 beautiful Newfies out walking their humans 1 mile in on the road in the late afternoon. 
Bugs
Bugs: Some around, including the good-old black flies, but not many biting (yet?). 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Trusting the weathermen that were all calling for mid-day clearing, I started late for this one (11 AM), under mostly cloudy skies but it was starting to clear up. By the time I hit the summit, the views were pretty darn good, though the high peaks around the Presis and up North towards Rangeley were still clouded in. A few rain showers appeared to be heading through the Wild River Valley, but mostly largely sunny skies up by me. Decided to do the quick out-and-back to East Peak "just because". Also great views there. Across the ridge to Carlo was mostly uneventful, though the wet ledges and the boots I were using don't mix well so extra care was needed. The ladder/steel rung section was fun to descend, but was sadly over rather quickly (I expected it to be longer than it was). A fun loop, though I could have done without all the wet ledges. Saw only 3 people (2 dayhikers that came up the Wright Trail, and a backpacker - possibly a thru-hiker), love the quiet of the Mahoosucs.

My biggest worry with this hike was the state of the road, given my car. I swore off this road after a rough time last year. I was glad to hear of the road repairs, many thanks LeftyE!  
Name
Name: madmattd 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-06-01 
Link
Link: https://mattshikes.blogspot.com 
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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