| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Katahdin - Baxter Peak, Mt. Katahdin - Hamlin Peak, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Abol Stream Trail, Tote Road, Abol Trail, Hunt Trail, Saddle Trail, Northwest Basin Trail, Baxter Peak Cutoff |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, December 13, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Golden Road and parking area at Abol Bridge very icy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe, Skis |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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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: |
Route from Abol Bridge to Abol Campground is packed down solidly by snow-mobiles and skiing conditions are becoming very difficult (hard to gain traction uphill and breaking on downhill sections). Barebooting seemed like the best choice although skiing was very nice on the flatter sections.
Abol tr was trekked out. We used snowshoes until above tree-line and then switched to crampons. Unconsolidated crusted snow with many rocks protruding. The crust not solid enough and we would break-through frequently even on sections where we could see foot-prints from previous parties. Used ice-axe when descending this section.
On the Tableland we switched back to snowshoes expecting crusted conditions but not solid enough to hold body-weight. Until 1/4 mile beyond Thoreau Spring that seemed like a good call but after that the surfaces got considerably harder and crampons would probably have been a better choice as the risk of punching through diminished.
The Tableland is a like a frozen tundra and you can walk everywhere. Krumholtz sections are covered completely with about 6-12" of the top of the vegetation showing. Many cairns are visible but from 1/4 mile beyond Thoreau Spring until shortly before the Baxter Peak summit we could not pick out a single one. The summit sign is almost completely covered. Same with the trail sign at Thoreau Spring. Note: the descend from Baxter Peak to the Saddle is dangerous. Very hard crusted - almost icy - surface. And the fall-line is very bad when following the trail. We traversed away from the bowl-rim towards the Tableland where the fall-line is considerably better.
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 | Name: |
LongMark&Andy |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-12-15 |
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 | Link: |
 http:// |
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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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