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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Saddleback Mountain, ME
Trails
Trails: Ski trails, Appalachian Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, January 1, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The ski area is closed this winter. We were able to park at the top of the access road near the cul-de-sac. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We followed snowshoe tracks up the ungroomed ski trails on Saddleback (the ski area is closed this winter). About three-quarters of the way up we encountered another group of peak-baggers who were returning from the summit and The Horn. The day was cold and windy with no views. When we reached the ridgeline and intersected the Appalachian Trail, we were socked in and there was no sign of the summit, the trail, or the cairns leading to it. Stubby snow-covered trees all looked like possible cairns. Despite having hiked here before along the AT, I found the trail unrecognizable. We spent several minutes exploring in different directions, but the previous hikers' tracks were already blown in. Nervous about finding our way back if we ventured too far on the open ridge, we were about to give up and descend when a very brief break in the clouds revealed the true summit about a quarter mile away. We followed treeline and found faint tracks to reach the summit cairn of Saddleback on the bald ridge. We had planned to continue on to The Horn, but with still no sign of the trail, cairns, or mountain, we opted to turn back and come get it on a clear day. The descent was relatively quick but not great sledding due to drifted snow on the unused ski trails.  
Name
Name: Liz 
E-Mail
E-Mail: lizwyman@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-01-02 
Link
Link: https:// 
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