Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Bigelow Mountain - Avery Peak, Bigelow Mountain - West Peak, Bigelow Mountain - South Horn, Bigelow Mountain - North Horn, ME |
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| Trails: |
Fire Warden's Trail, Bigelow Range Trail, Horns Pond Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Sunday, August 15, 2021 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Most hikers parked in the lot by the kiosk. The road from the kiosk to Stratton Brook is rough with standing water and ruts in places. It would be best to have a high clearance vehicle to continue beyond the kiosk.
At 7:00AM there were only three vehicles in the kiosk parking. In the past I have seen this lot fill up early. By early evening there were lots of vehicles in the lot. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Stratton Brook crossing on bridge. Some small brooks easily crossed on Horns Pond Trail. The high log bridge has been removed (it had looked potentially dangerous). |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails in generally good condition. The rock stairs on the steep sections of the Fire Warden's trail provide great footing and eliminate erosion. Some rock stairs and rock water bars on the Horns Pond Trail. Crew was emplacing rock stairs and water bars on the AT to the east of South Horn.
Hikers had worn in a path around the end of one blow down on the AT. Another tree fall low on the Horns Pond Trail was an easy stepover. Several leaners in to the trail that required minimal ducking. Signage was good. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs. |
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| Bugs: |
Not many |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Fine views from the four peaks. The downlook to Flagstaff Lake is particularly impressive. Also a fine view of the Sugarloaf ski area and Little Bigelow Mountain. Base of old fire tower on Avery Peak. It is worth the small walk on a side trail to get down to Horns Pond.
Lots of hikers out today. Hiked up to Avery Peak with Mike and Christine from Stoneham, MA. Met a family from Farmington, ME with two boys; Avery and West (named after the peaks) whose grandfather was the last warden to report a fire from the tower on Avery Peak. Met an AT thru hiker from Shrewsbury, MA who I had met twice before this year.
Lots of Asters in bloom especially on the Horns Pond Trail. |
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| Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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| E-Mail: |
waumbek@roadrunner.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-08-15 |
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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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