| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Sawyer Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Sawyer Mountain Road Trail, Sawyer Mountain Summit Side Trail, Sherwood Libby Trail, Nature Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking area hadn’t been plowed but shouldn’t be a problem for any car (a Mustang made it in). Room for Probably a half dozen to a dozen cars before the lot would overflow. Two other cars there when I arrived at 4:30pm and one other at 7:15pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Some trickles from the melting snow on Sawyer Mtn Road and one small stream crossing on Sherwood Libby Trail. Nothing of any significance. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Since the guidebook doesn’t seem to mention it, I’m assuming there’s a new reroute on the Sawyer Mtn Road that actually bears left, off the road, and into the woods for a little bit to avoid the most eroded part of the road. All trails were marked with the painted turtles like the guidebook says. The turtles aren’t always visible which but are frequent enough. Sawyer Mtn Road is obvious anyway (small signs/arrows pointing where it enters and exits the woods on the new reroute). The Sherwood Libby Trail is a narrow trail through open woods and thus is rather obscure. Lots of twists and turns too that aren’t obvious. There is LOTS of surveyors tape marking the way which should make it easy to follow. The turtles still pop up but not as often as the surveyors tape. At the moment you can also just follow the footprints through the snow. A couple parts where the footprints meander or where you need to look for the next piece of tape. I think Sawyer Mtn Road and the summit side trail were clear of blowdowns and there were just one or two on the Sherwood Libby and Nature Trail. The Nature Trail had a large branch you had to crawl under where nearly ran right into a porcupine! The Nature Trail was a bit like the Sherwood Libby Trail but nothing quite as hard to follow. Blazed with blue turtles and blue surveyors tape. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One seen coming in from a road near the turtle cemetery and the Childs family property (not mentioned in the guidebook but it’s after the other camps and the Estes cemetery on the Sawyer Mtn Rd Trail) at a distance with its owner. Never saw them again. Not sure they actually got on the main trails to the mountain. I think all the trails around here would be good for dogs. Just please make sure that they’re either on a leash or strict voice control and wouldn’t run at or bark at another hiker. |
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 | Bugs: |
A lot of snowfleas for awhile on a long section of Sawyer Mtn Road |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I packed out some fallen surveyors tape. |
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 | Comments: |
The ground conditions were still crappy with a few inches of wet snow still in places and slush or water in most other places but it still beats being indoors! Sawyer Mtn Road Trail had the most snow has it was mostly north facing. Sherwood Libby has less. Some spots where the snow had melted altogether too.
All these trails seem to get daily use. Sherwood Libby seemed obscure but it’s well marked and it may be much easier without snow on the ground. No real obstacles on the trails. All the jcts and points of interest are well signed. Descent views from the top towards the Belknaps, what I believe was the Wapack Range and Monadnock, and some nearby mountains I recently hiked (Knox, Abbott, and others nearby).
I nearly ran into a porcupine while on the Nature Loop! First time I’ve seen one of those on the ground hike hiking so close by. Luckily it didn’t seem to much mind me! |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-03-26 |
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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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