Old Speck Mountain (attempt) - Old Speck Trail - 2-10-2018

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Old Speck Mountain (attempt), ME

	Trails:	Old Speck Trail

	Date of Hike:	Saturday, February 10, 2018

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Plenty of parking.

	Surface Conditions:	Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts

	Recommended Equipment:	Snowshoes

	Water Crossing Notes:	All water crossings were frozen.

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	A few blowdowns easy to hop over.

	Dog-Related Notes:	Would not recommend bringing a dog. The snow is incredibly deep.

	Bugs:	N/A

	Lost and Found:	I lost my iPhone 7 Plus somewhere in the first half of the climb up on Old Speck Trail. It is in a black otterbox case. Please email me if you think you found it. It was not backed up. :(


	Comments:	We broke trail for over 4 hours and never reached the true summit. The snow was incredibly deep and snowshoes weren't enough for the trail. Many times we thought we were lost despite following a clear cut in the trees. The trail is not well marked and we would often go 15+ minutes in between blaze sightings. Furthermore, the blazes are white which is difficult to see in the snow covered terrain. We met up with 2 other groups today and we all had to turn back before reaching the summit because of the time/amount of sunlight left. Nobody reached the summit. I would not recommend trying this mountain at this time unless you absolutely know the trail and start before sunrise. Be safe and happy trails!

	Name:	Sean Fitzgerald

	E-Mail:	s.pat.fitzgerald@gmail.com

	Date Submitted:	2018-02-10

	Link:	http://
		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.