Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Sugarloaf Mountain, Spaulding Mountain, ME |
|
| Trails: |
Ski trails, Sugarloaf Side Trail, Appalachian Trail, Spaulding Side Trail |
|
| Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 29, 2019 |
|
| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the Sugarloaf Base Lodge. |
|
| Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
|
| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
| Water Crossing Notes: |
No crossings. |
|
| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A number of blowdowns along the AT between Sugarloaf and Spaulding - easy to go around them now. Things could get a little more tricky with more snow. |
|
| Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs are allowed on the ski trails. |
|
| Bugs: |
None. |
|
| Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
|
|
|
|
| Comments: |
We did this one as an out-and-back from the ski area. After buying the uphill pass ($10 each) and making it about a mile up the designated route we got stopped by the Ski Patrol and were told we could only go as high as Bullwinkle’s Bistro. Uphill access beyond that point wasn’t allowed. We (politely) pleaded our case and were ready to turn around when the Ski Patrol employee said “let me make a callâ€. The result - uphill access was granted with certain very easy to comply with provisions (use Timberline, stay to the right, call Ski Patrol when done).
The lower route (Windrow) wasn’t open and there had been no snowmaking. There was enough snow (with a little ice) to use snowshoes up to Bullwinkle’s. The upper route (Timberline) wasn’t open but there was a ton of snow. They had been making it for days but haven’t groomed it so there were huge mounds. The trail from Sugarloaf to Spaulding had been packed out by friends a couple of days earlier and was easy to navigate. We still used snowshoes (they provided great traction and the heel lifts were awesome) but there wasn’t much soft snow to contend with. |
|
| Name: |
Michael and Monica |
|
| E-Mail: |
michaelfblair@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-12-29 |
|
| Link: |
https:// |
|
|
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. |
|