| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Sugarloaf Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Lower Windrow ski trail, Upper Windrow ski trail, Lower Timberline ski trail, Upper Timberline ski trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 13, 2018 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Park at Sugarloaf ski area and head to the main lodge (take the shuttle if you like) to get your $10 uphill access ticket. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Slush |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
no real crossings, but several very small water flow areas across the ski trails |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
none |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
N/A |
|
 | Bugs: |
N/A |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Another tough day to get in multiple peaks without hiking out in the cold wind and dark. Temps were well above freezing in the morning and a steady rain fell until about 10am. We decided to hold off until the rain switched to snow and got underway about 11. Took the Windrow and Timberline ski trails up, as directed by the Sugarloaf uphill access regulations ($10 access ticket) - http://sugarloaf.com/the-mountain/uphill-policy. Reached the summit a bit after 1pm and found good shelter from the strong winds behind the highest building/tower.
Had originally planned to hike over to Spaulding and even Abraham, but the morning rain and unsure LT conditions made it tough for us to reasonably do that. We would have had to hike out in the dark at least a couple hours, maybe more depending on trail conditions of the Sugarloaf Side Trail + LT. (Six miles round-trip to Spaulding and back to Sugarloaf, then another couple miles down.) We decided to leave them for another day, as we had two more days of hiking in the area ahead.
Surface conditions were easy enough. These two ski trails were closed due to lack of snow depth. Didn't really need snowshoes, but the televators made the climb easier. We didn't have to deal with any more than an inch or few of fresh snow. Snow fell the whole time we were out there. In places where snow was blown to one side of the trail, we occasionally broke through an ice crust, but we easily avoided it by hiking on or alongside the visible/mowed growth on the trail.
We'll be back for you, Spaulding + Abraham! |
|
 | Name: |
Erik Bertrand |
|
 | E-Mail: |
erik@bertpc.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2018-01-13 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/1a11cfd1c4e092122d89fadb03d297dff87bf64e/?layer=GaiaTopoRasterFeet |
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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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