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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Old Speck Mountain, Sunday River Whitecap, Stowe Mountain, Bald Mountain, ME
Trails
Trails: Old Speck Trail, Mahoosuc Trail, Grafton Loop Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking at Eddy Road trailhead for Grafton Loop (trail is 0.6 to the south along 26) where we spotted a car, and also plenty available at the AT crossing in Grafton Notch. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All drainages running very low, if at all. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Old Speck Trail and Mahoosuc Trail had no issues. Grafton Loop had a few blowdowns, all stepovers, and was brushy in a couple of areas heading around Slide Mountain. Really good going on this route. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: I'd say we were moving too fast for them to catch us, but even when stopped, bugs weren't much of an issue. Some rather large flying insects at the top of the tower on Old Speck, a couple of snaps, and I got down the ladder as quick as I could.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Ran the west half of the Grafton Loop with Nate, and was overjoyed by how gorgeous this part of the Grafton Loop Trail is to run. Made very quick work of Old Speck (the hard part), and enjoyed fantastic running conditions down and around Slide Mountain. The climb up to the most excellent summit of Sunday River Whitecap was fairly steep, but we dispatched it soon enough. Some ups and down were had on the descent to the road, but the going was mostly easy. Probably ended up running 75% of the loop! We filtered water from the sources for Slide Mountain Tentsite and Bald Mountain Tentsite, which both cross the trail. Both sources were flowing (Slide more so than Bald), but the lack of rain hasn't done anything to help them.  
Name
Name: Bill Robichaud 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bill.robichaud@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-07-28 
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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