| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Sugarloaf Mountain, Spaulding Mountain, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Caribou Valley Road, Appalachian Trail, Sugarloaf Spur, Spaulding Spur, bushwhack |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, July 9, 2022 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Caribou Valley Road is in OK shape, as many previous reports have stated the trickiest part might be at the very beginning. If you have a low clearance vehicle you'll make it to the gate, just go slow because there are a few major dips especially around culverts where you'll most likely bottom out. Pull-off lot at the gate can hold about 8 cars, but there is availability along the road if you pull to the side enough. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing on the AT just after leaving Caribou Valley Road was easily crossed on large boulders and a wooden plank. All other minor crossings were hoppable |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The AT is well-maintained and more reconstruction work is being done on the trail as it ascends away from the Carrabassett River. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
Cool morning must have kept them quiet, very few this morning. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
A somewhat open-ended hike, with the possibility to add Abraham. Legs weren't in it today to go out to Abraham and back to the Spaulding Lean-Tos, so summited Sugarloaf and Spaulding. The ascent up Sugarloaf with the switchback and talus was really fun and interesting, with many views back into the river valley and over to Crocker/Redington. The ridge between Sugarloaf and Spaulding is quite pleasurable with great footing and easy grades.
After descending Spaulding on the AT, I passed the Spaulding Lean-To/water area by about 0.1mi, looking for remnants of old snowmobile or logging roads seen on AllTrails and Google satellite images. Also captured some images of lines from previous hikers. Well, it was pretty clear that this would be a full-on whack, as there were occasional faint signs of herd paths, but honestly whether they were moose or human I couldn't tell you. I decided to just make an original whack to the road on the southeast side of the lake (which I knew was there due to previous day's scouting). Overall it was moderately difficult, between a Vose Spur and Mendon-from-AT whack, of about 1.25 miles. I emerged onto the road victorious and headed north past the pond, over the bridge at the pond's outlet, and joined Caribou Valley Road back out. |
|
 | Name: |
WishfulThinking |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2022-07-09 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
