| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Saddleback Mountain, Saddleback Mountain - The Horn, ME |
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 | Trails: |
ATV trail, Berry Picker’s Trail, Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
A rough, but still solid gravel road leads approximately 3.5 miles from Reed’s Mill Rd in Madrid, Maine to the designated parking area at the ATV gate. Consult www.mainetrailfinder.com for excellent directions to this area. Note that the bridge over Reed’s Mill just after the junction with ME Route 4 was damaged this spring during a horrendous rainstorm. Repairs are not scheduled to be completed until August 28th. Follow detour signs from Toothaker Pond Rd to Fish Hatchery Rd, then to another connection with Reed’s Mill Rd. High clearance vehicle required for the gravel road to the trailhead. I made it all the way without issues and without 4 wheel drive. Bridges still holding up well. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. Berry Picker’s passes a lovely little Brook at the start of the trailhead proper. Nice cool off spot after a good hike! |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The blow downs that were present on our May hike of this trail have been expertly dispatched of. Thank you!! Excellent updated blue blazes all the way to the col (on Berry Picker’s). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No issues that present problems for four legged hikers. |
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 | Bugs: |
Where aren’t they? Bug spray only attracts more of them... Deer flies seem to be the biggest offenders today below tree line. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Straight forward hike from the ATV gate, up the ATV trail to the junction with Fly Rod Crosby Trail. Make a left to continue to follow this ATV trail to the Berry Picker’s trailhead proper (signed, mileage noted). The Berry Picker’s trail is less used but well blazed and simple to follow. We took this to the col between Saddleback and The Horn. We turned right onto the Northbound AT and took the summit. No views of Katahdin today... too hazy. Lovely views of the Bigelows, Sugarloaf and the mountains of the 100 mile wilderness.
Abundant alpine blueberries have ripened and “sweetened†the ascent. Amazing how these little berries taste so much better at 4000 feet... |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-07-30 |
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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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