| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Barren Mountain (Elliottsville/T7 R9 NWP), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail, Slugundy Falls Trail, unnamed trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 11, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Private road/private land. Strongly recommend a vehicle with some clearance (Outback/RAV4/small Jeep/crossover) as the private road can be rocky/rutted and the small rocks on the road leading to the parking area aren't smoothed down from repeated logging truck use.
Space for 5-7 vehicles. Do not park on the access road or in the helicopter landing area. As posted - DAY USE ONLY. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
no major water sources aside from Slugundy Falls |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The unnamed side trail leading from the day parking area to the AT is not well marked for the first tenth of a mile or so, but is relatively intuitive. There's usually some mud in the first 500 yds that's easily avoidable. AT is self explanatory and no major blow downs - 1 duck under on the AT. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
2 dogs doing just fine |
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 | Bugs: |
extremely minimal |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Late entry. About 10 days past fall peak color. Trail was as described in the Maine guidebook and on other third-party reports. Access trail includes a memorial for a young adult who died (heart defect/not hiking related) in the mid 2000s; story is in the Bangor Daily News archives.
The 3 vistas atop the Barren Slides are amazing with views of Lake Onawa, Borestone Mountain and Sebec Lake in the distance. The AT portion itself is relatively easy/moderate with some incline to start. Once you reach the plateau portion, the up/down every so often is not bad. You will be exposed to crosswinds on the wooded plateau from the north (usually colder) - the woods are deceiving; you aren't really fully sheltered. Leaves on the access trail were slippery/slick and needed care on the descent.
Arrived at 9. Vistas by 12. Stayed/lounged/at lunch until 1, headed back down by 3 after an extended visit to the falls/shelter area. About 5.7 miles round trip. Met several AT hikers giddy at the mention of Kathadin from the fire tower about 1.2 miles past the Barren Slides vistas.
On the way down, went to Slugundy Falls/ Barren Mountain Shelter. The AT snakes along the brook for some time and I didn't get to see where it crossed. Very remote and hidden area. The hike down to the shelter is easy/moderate - there's a rustic privy there but water source around the shelter has never been reliable in my 3 visits to the area; would be forced to use the falls/river. |
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 | Name: |
Kavinsky |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-11-01 |
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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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