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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Old Speck Mountain, ME
Trails
Trails: Old Speck Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, March 16, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The designated lot of ME 26 is plowed and pavement is showing. There are privies (2), but I did not go in this time so I’m not sure their status. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The brooks are all at low levels. Simple hopovers. The larger brook is still iced over. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: One blowdown blocking half the trail. Nothing else of significance. Blazing fresh and well placed. Most turns are not marked with double blazes (BUT I am looking at these in winter conditions, there may not even be a “turn” in summer).  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Good trail for dogs. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Most of the standard white AT blazes are above the snowpack. Even up towards the summit.

Oh- there’s a part where someone went the wrong way. About 1.5 miles from the summit there is a turn that was missed by a prior hiker. The spike postholes went straight and away from the summit, but the actual trail goes to the left and up a knob. Though the person did correct themselves higher up, they had to side scramble the slope to do so. I placed a stick arrow directly on the trail indicating to go left at the initial confusion point. It is confusing, there was no, I mean no foot traffic going up the knob towards the next visible blaze. Also at this point I travelled back and forth in my snowshoes trying to create a trench to show the correct way. You can see a blaze up the hill on a big tree when you come to this junction.

The blue blazes of the Spur trail are not visible above the snow pack. I think I saw three. But there is foot traffic to help show the way. The trail corridor is visible with present snow levels. Also visible through the trees today was Mount Washington and Presidential cronies! ‘Sup guys?! Lots of mountains to been seen from today’s clear summit.

It was great to meet some hikers out enjoying the nice weather today! It was especially nice to meet another local hiker. Thanks for taking the time to chit-chat about our local mountains, some possible alternate routes to Sunday River Whitecap, and present snow levels! Hikers... what a strange bunch! ;)  
Name
Name: Remington34 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-03-16 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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