| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Lord Hill, Pine Hill, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Deer Hill Road, FR 9, Conant Trail, Horseshoe Pond Trail, Mine Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 25, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The road is gated maybe 0.6 or 0.7mi from the trailhead so there’s a short road walk. Some people parked near the gate and there’s also a small space for two cars to pull in just before. There were two other cars when we arrived at 10am and about a half dozen when we left at 4pm and at least a couple had already come and gone. I was surprised to see as many people out as we did but it was by no means crowded and people were respectful :) |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The beaver pond areas that used to be flooded are very passable but wet and muddy in spots. There’s one or two crossings over some metal contraptions here as well where water flows over them. It was possible to get across without getting your feet wet but more difficult a week ago when I was there. I’d avoid in high water. The only normal crossing is of Bradley Brook and that was rock hopable. The trail seems to disappear on the other side of it if going clockwise as we did but once you get to the other side and look up it’s obvious. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All trails were blazed in yellow but not terribly frequently. The trails would likely be hard to follow if you were inexperienced. A mid-sized birch blowdowns to crawl finagle over between Harndon Hill and Lord Hill around where we saw a moose. Not much else I recall on Conant Trail or Mine Loop but there were a number of blowdowns on Horsheshoe Pond Trail (probably 3-5). One tall but thin leaner, among some others that hadn’t been trimmed and were easiest to go around or under. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I didn’t see any but a hiking dog should be fine on these trails. Not a whole lot of water, particularly on the northern part of Conant Trail. They may need a little boost on the little scramble just before reaching Lords Hill (traveling clockwise). |
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 | Bugs: |
Both mosquitos and black flies were out and at least the mosquitos were starting to bite. A mosquito or two landed on me during the hike but they weren’t noticeable or a nuisance. The only time they got annoying was back at the car at the end of the day. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
My mother and I did a clockwise loop of the Conant Trail. I also did an out-and-back on Horseshoe Pond Trail and on Mine Loop (I went up the 0.2mi on Mine Rd, then did an out-and-back on each piece of the Mine Loop Trail). We started at 10am in the low-mid 50s and sunny skies and finished about 10 degrees warmer. Definitely hot and sweaty by the end of it. My mom regretted not wearing a tank top.
Only a couple patches of snow. Not worth bringing microspikes although the story may be different after yesterday’s and today’s snow/rain although I imagine in this area that things are mostly just wet and there wasn’t much new snow. All in all, thighs are very dry for this time of year. Other than some of the road portions of trail, particularly around the area that used to be flooded, there wasn’t much mud or water to speak of. I felt good in my trail runners (not waterproof). Not too many puddles to go around on the road and, where there was water flowing down it, it was pretty minimal.
Conant and Mine Trail only had a couple of blowdowns to contend with whereas Horseshoe Pond had several. The trails are all blazed in yellow but not that frequently which certainly bothered my mother ;) Parts of the trail are a bit obscure and can be a little hard to follow. Namely, watch for a slight left into the woods and off the road if ascending counterclockwise to Pine Hill. I had missed that turn when attempting part of this loop a week ago.
Nice to see several others out on the trail. I was surprised at the number I saw given the road was gated and how infrequently travelled these trails are. It was by no means crowded though and everyone was respectful. Great to meet and talk with Lou, a very accomplished hiker :) |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-04-27 |
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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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