| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mahoosuc Arm, Old Speck Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Speck Pond Trail, May Cutoff, Mahoosuc Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, October 7, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
North Road/York Pond Road in great shape and fine for any car. We were the only car in the lot today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No major crossings, but lots of mud and sometimes sunken boardwalks. Par for the course in the Mahoosucs and nothing too crazy |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are well cleared and marked. Some big bridging is in less than ideal condition. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Today we climbed Mahoosuc Arm and Old Speck from the York Pond Road. The road in is in great shape, and is easily passable by any car. We parked at the start of the Speck Pond Trail and started up. The first half of this trail is quite gradual and easy, but the second half quickly transitions to a typical trail in the Mahoosucs with rock scrambles, extensive mud, and ladders.
After reaching the top of the climb, we turned onto the May Cutoff which passes over the summit of Mahoosuc Arm. Although this trail doesn't have much elevation change, there were a number of sunken bog bridges which required care to navigate. When we reached the Mahoosuc Trail, we took a few minutes to enjoy the great views from the viewpoints near the trail intersection and carefully traversed the huge mud pit near the trail junction.
After descending and passing along the shore of Speck Pond, we started the climb up Old Speck's northern ridge. This section of trail was quite rugged, but it eventually broke out onto an open alpine ridge which was absolutely spectacular. After entering the trees again, it wasn't too long before we reached the summit of Old Speck, which we had to ourselves for a while. It was a perfectly clear day and the views of the peak foliage were stunning. We did see a few other groups near the summit of Old Speck, but other than that we had the trails to ourselves all day.
After eating lunch, we descended back along the ridge to Speck Pond. From here we climb most of the way back up Mahoosuc Arm on the Speck Pond Trail before descending back to our car. The hike was about 10.6 miles round-trip, but it felt like more due to the ruggedness of the terrain. This was one of my favorite hikes that I've done in a while, and it is definitely much better than the more popular Grafton Notch approach to Old Speck. |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-10-07 |
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 | Link: |
 https://m.facebook.com/groups/MaineHiking/permalink/2391581627650884/ |
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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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