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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Sugarloaf Mountain, Spaulding Mountain, Mt. Abraham, ME
Trails
Trails: Ski trails, Sugarloaf Side Trail, Appalachian Trail, Spaulding Spur, Abraham Side Trail, Mt. Abraham Trail, logging roads
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 3, 2015
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Sugarloaf Ski slopes access pass is $10, The suggested route of uphill travel is Windrow to Bullwinkles, and Tote Road above that point. this link provides more details http://www.sugarloaf.com/the-mountain/uphill-policy  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The two Washed out bridges over Rapid Stream were iced over, it should be covered from here on out unless it warms up. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: lots of blowdowns and leaners in spots 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Not sure if dogs are allowed up the slopes. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Once again, sorry for the delay in posting the conditions as this was from Saturday the 3rd but it could be useful for route info. Expect trail to not be broken out with numerous blowdowns and leaners.

Ski Slopes to the summit. From the summit the Spaulding Spur to the A.T. is not marked with a sign, head past the chain link fence and the trail heads left into the scrub, you will know within fifty feet if you are on the trail as it's well defined. The A.T. between Sugarloaf and Spaulding has blowdowns and leanovers, the trail should be followed carefully as one or two sections also have fern branches encroaching the trail. From Spaulding to the Abraham Side Trail Junction the trail has spots where the trail corridor is not that obvios as it heads through open woods, especially when there is a blowdown which blocks the trail, don't go wandering off, the trail is usually right behind the blowdown, pay attention! The Abraham Side Trail is easy to follow and well defined, the last half mile is exposed and could be icy in spots with drifting.

The Fire Wardens trail leaves the summit of Mount Abraham immediately to the left (North), do not keep heading straight, there are cairns leading to a sub peak to the east, it's not the Fire Wardens Trail. Above treeline the trail is steep and mostly likely icy from the summit to treeline. Trail might be hard to find as the cairns are small and could be buried. Crampons should be used, if slope is to unnerving hug the scrub on your right and down climb to where the trail heads into the trees, there's a MATC sign at the bottom of steep section where the trail bangs a right down into the woods. Below Treeline to the old wardens cabin there are numerous blowdowns and the trail is not that easy to follow in spots, below the old site of the cabin there are fewer blowdowns and the trail is easier to follow. When the trail ends head strait over logging roads, near the end there are two washed out bridges with decent sized river crossings, which should be iced over from here on out. Just past the two stream crossings is where you can park your car. The road to the trailhead is icy, snowy, and bumpy, high clearance and AWD is probably a must!

Another steal of a hike, great weather, other than the blowdowns the trail conditions were perfect.  
Name
Name: Chris 
E-Mail
E-Mail: cdailey@hpearce.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2015-01-07 
Link
Link: https://dailey7779.blogspot.com/2015/01/above-4000-feet-in-maine-north-south.html 
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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