| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Fletcher Hill, Black Hill, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Logging roads, unnamed trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, August 19, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Black Hill Road is passable by any vehicle to the intersection with the logging road headeding North. This road is passable to its end with good clearance |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Some muddy areas, but nothing significant |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
This route did not follow any maintained trails |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Not many |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Has anyone else ever looked at the talus slope on a nearby hill from the New Portland Fair and wondered what the view would be like up there? It piques my interest every time I'm at the fair, and I finally decided to check it out.
The hill is called Black Hill, and is located in Embden. I parked at a grassy log yard on a logging road which diverges north from Black Hill Road. I started by following the grassy old road north up and over Fletcher Hill to the north side of Black Hill. It seems that an old trail used to ascend from this point, but most of it has been erased by logging. I followed skid roads, with varying amounts of brush to push through, up the gentle north slope of the hill. Near the summit, where the recent logging ended, I was able to pick up the old trail and follow it the rest of the way.
The summit area itself doesn't have any views, but there's a small cairn marking what is likely the top. There's also a strange rectangular pile of rocks to the north of the summit, and it seems someone with an excavator has cleared a route up from the east.
From the summit, I descended north towards the talus fields. The going was slow in this part, and footing was tricky with the steep slopes and many loose rocks. I eventually reached the cliffs and talus slopes. There are multiple open talus fields and spots that provide good views. The largest talus field is the one that looks at the fairgrounds, and it also has the best views.
After carefully exploring the area, I descended down the north slope to a log yard on a road which I followed back to my car.
From where Black Hill Road is gated near a camp, I did another hike to Black Hill Pond. This hike was an easy one along gated logging roads. Black Hill Pond is a beautiful undeveloped pond which has a few shore access points. |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-08-19 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaineHiking/permalink/2644048339070877/ |
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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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