| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Brother (attempt), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Tote Road, Marston Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, March 5, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
none |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Daicey Pond to Tote Rd, Marston Trail
Bare booted to Marston trail from Daicey Pond. Trail sign-in showed no one had been on tail since Feb 24th -10 days. From start of trailhead, Snowshoes required. In the intervening 10 days, a good amount of new snow had fallen with increasing amounts per elevation rise, 2-4", 6-8", 12"+. The trail was recognizable early on but with increased elevation most of the time had disappeared. Breaking trail with this party of one was becoming increasingly arduous and very exhausting. With daily amounts of new snow with the freeze/thawing every day/night, the snow was heavy most of the time in breaking trail. The higher up, the more snow. Breaking this trail was slow and becoming very taxing on the legs. I could not make any good time - just not possible. After breaking trail now for 2 1/2 - 3 hours, lost trail at 2600'. I took what looked like the trail, but trail markers disappeared. After another 100' rise, I back-tracked till I found first blue-blazed marker. I looked up and saw an orange ribbon tied around a tree above. That was the trail. Continued up a short bit and decide to abort.
After about 2.7 miles of travel with only a 1500' rise in elevation in breaking trail, I was Completely Exhausted. Knowing I had another 1500' rise to go, with most likely deeper amounts of snow to break trail at my current seemingly dragging pace, for another 2 1/2 - 3 hours, was a no-brain-er. Maybe I could make it to the top, but I would have absolutely no energy left, being physical depleted and spent to get down. At this point the only thing I would want to do is rest and go to sleep. Abandoning this hike was the only logical choice.
If you need to break trails in this park, you really cannot do it alone. Another hike I wanted to do, the trail was unbroken and much longer. The alternative to that hike was the Abol trail, but I was told by an experienced hiker not to hike alone on this trail. I took his advice and abandoned my trip, and left before the new N'easter was about to arrive. |
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 | Name: |
Gordon |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-03-11 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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