| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Saddleback Wind, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Access road, Saddleback Wind Trail, East Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, November 4, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of park in the designated parking area near the maintenance facility |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only one wet area which was easy to cross using stepping stones |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are well maintained, marked, and cleared |
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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: |
Saddleback Wind lovers rejoice, the trail closure only affects a short section of trail in the col between Bald and Saddleback! That means that Saddleback's summit and East Ridge are fully accessible and open from the wind farm side. This also means that there will be even less people up there now!
It was a cold morning with the temperature hovering around 25°F when I started. There was heavy frost in the parking lot, but I soon hit snow around 1,500'. The snow was never more than an inch deep, and made for very pretty scenery. There were some small patches of ice, but nothing significant enough to require spikes.
The wind farm walk went quickly and then it was a short half mile to the summit. It was very cold with the breeze on the summit, but the sun felt nice and the views were outstanding! Someone has recently placed logbooks at the summit and on the East Ridge.
From the summit I continued on for a little under a mile to the East Ridge. This infrequently visited viewpoint is a very beautiful place and offers great views of Bald Mountain.
After spending some time here, I retracted my steps back to the summit, where I ate lunch, before continuing back through the wind farm to my car. Saddleback Wind is one of my favorite peaks in the area, and I'm glad it's still accessible! It is worth noting that hikers are not allowed to use the wind farm road when there is a possibility of ice on the turbine blades. |
|
 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-11-04 |
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 | Link: |
 https://m.facebook.com/groups/MaineHiking/permalink/2414112832064430/ |
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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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