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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Katahdin (Hamlin Peak), ME
Trails
Trails: Abol Beach Road, Park Tote Road, Roaring Brook Road, Chimney Pond Trail, Saddle Trail, Northwest Basin Trail, Hamlin Ridge Trail, North Basin Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking at Abol Bridge. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Skis 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: A 30 foot section around Abol Stream was a challenge to get the sleds around an active beaver lodge causing flooding over the trail. When we passed this area was mostly frozen and we were able to move to the side of the trail into the small trees. A nice path is there with a few "Step Overs" that would be easy if not for the sleds. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: All trails in great shape. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Not allowed in the park. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Via Abol Bridge, Abol Beach Road, Park Tote Road, Roaring Brook Road, Chimney Pond Trail, Saddle Trail, NW Basin Trail, Hamlin Ridge Trail, N Basin Trail

This 5 day trip started on the 4th allowed us to take our time on each leg of the journey. Skiing into Roaring Brook uphill was a bit of a challenge taking around 6.5 hours. Heading out was a much easier 4-hour trip but staying ahead of the sleds meant polling for speed on the downhills. Chimney Pond Trail is well broken out but did not have enough snow for us to bring our sleds up to Chimney Pond. The "winter trail" across the ponds is not open because of lack of ice and the rangers have not started bringing the snowmobiles up to the pond yet. The Saddle Trail was well broken out up to the slide and was hard packed in the slide. We stayed in snowshoes but you would not be wrong transiting over to crampons/ice axes through this section. NW Basin Trail was punchy in places and it took a few minutes to find the actual trail through the spruce traps on the table land. Hamlin Ridge Trail was a good choice to descend. We took our snowshoes off for the actual ridge portion of the rail and had to be careful not to punch through the rocks. There was a quarter mile section that we came down on our butts which might be a bit tough going up, but not enough to pick a different route IMO. Once we reached the woods the rest of the trail was well broken out.

If it rains more on Sunday the beaver damn will present a greater challenge to pass over.  
Name
Name: Steve(Spot) 
E-Mail
E-Mail: swyman@tandemseven.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-01-10 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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