| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Saddleback Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, October 15, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Good parking on Maine Highway 4 about five miles east of Rangeley. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The few small water crossings were all easily rock-hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some blowdowns have been cleared. Bog bridges in the lower section of the route are fairly rickety. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Some steep, rocky sections would be difficult for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
Zilch. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This 5.7-mile route to the summit via the AT can be divided into three sections of roughly 2 miles each. The lower section, from Highway 4 to Piazza Rock (and tent sites) is gently uphill for the most part through lovely mixed hardwoods. The upper section, from where the AT crosses the Flyrod Crosby Trail at Eddy Pond to the summit, begins with a tough mile that climbs more than 1,000 vertical feet in that mile, then levels off for another mile in the Alpine Zone as the trail crosses ledge after ledge, gaining another 400-500 feet in elevation. The middle section is, I think, the toughest -- at least it was for me, both ascending and descending. The trail in this section is very rocky and root-y, and the climb from Ethel Pond to the upper part of the ridge near Eddy Pond is very steep and demanding. Up high, closing in on the summit, the views in all directions are outstanding. |
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 | Name: |
thefeatheredhat |
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 | E-Mail: |
stevebjerklie@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-10-18 |
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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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