| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Saddleback Mountain, Saddleback Mountain- The Horn, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Grey Ghost ski trail, Tricolor ski trail, side trail, Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, October 17, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of parking at the ski area in the off season. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Some step-overs on Grey Ghost. Puddles on AT from the rain, including some big ones crossed only with boots partly underwater. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Grey Ghost has a good hiking path on the ski trail. Tricolor looked like tanks had been driving over it, obliterating all plant life and topsoil for the near future. The path above the ski trails and top lift had faded yellow blazes leading up to the AT. This piece of the AT is sporty indeed! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
You traildoggies who are half mountain goat will love this hike. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The Saddleback Ridge has a large number of PUDs and false summits, and the day's poor visibility didn't help. Both summits do have summit signs, a long 1.7 miles apart. There is a post with no sign at a pre-peak at the top of the path between the ski trails and the AT. Saddleback peak is the next one to the east on the AT. Then the all fours plus butt rock scrambling down the very deep col begins. No part of it is extremely treacherous, but I think it's the most difficult ridge walk I've done. It was wet, raining some of the time, cloudy most of the time, and windy but not excessively so. The sun came out from time to time but clear views were elusive. I bet it would be a really fun hike in good weather. It will be memorable, and not in a bad way now that it's done.
This route is the one that the ski area suggest that hikers use. During ski season, hikes are requested to get a free snowshoeing ticket. This is for everyone's safety and to help the ski area keep track of people. |
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 | Name: |
peaksseeker |
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 | E-Mail: |
peaksseeker@yahoo.om |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-10-19 |
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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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