| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Little Jackson Mountain, Jackson Mountain , ME |
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 | Trails: |
Little Jackson Connector, Parker Ridge Trail, Pond Link Trail, Little Jackson Trail, Jackson Mountain Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 11, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There’s signs along the road that say it’s closed for winter maintenance from November 1st to May 1st or something like that but many people still clearly drive the road and given the current (or until last night) lack of snow, it’s very drivable. Just small patches of ice here and there to be aware of and frozen ruts. Some large divots in the road that low clearance vehicles should be wary of. Overall, it was a little rougher than I would’ve imagined but should be drivable by any car. Very wide. No real lot, just a pullout with room for at least a few cars roughly opposite the start of Brook Trail and Little Jackson Connector. Though the guidebook would seem to suggest otherwise, a man I met on the trails said there’s no signs telling you not to park at the end of Morgan Rd or anything. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Generally speaking, the rocks in the water crossings are beginning to ice over and make things tricky. That enough may be reason to bring microspikes. The crossing on Parker Ridge Trail was readily rock hopable. The crossing on Pond Link Trail was also hopable but a bit more difficult. I don’t know the name of the brook, but the one that drains the col between Jackson and Little Jackson is the one you cross on Pond Link and down low on Little Jackson Connector on its eastern end. This crossing was a slightly submerged rock hop for me and could be difficult in high water. It doesn’t get mentioned in the guidebook but it’s clearly seen on Gaia. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There’s a huge duck under/widow maker on Little Jackson Connector. Maybe 2/3 of the way to Parker Ridge Trail?? Looks like it’s been there awhile. I think there were two other blowdowns I meant to mention as well…one maybe on Pond Link and one on Little Jackson Trail between Pond Link and the col?? Sorry my memory is fuzzy here. There were several on the Jackson Mtn Trail but really weren’t that bad. A straddled or two, a duck under or two. Two to three were maybe a little annoying, the rest were more or less trivial. All trails were blazed in blue except Jackson Mtn Trail which is not blazed. Cairns above treeline. Signs at jcts name the trails but no distances. Trails weren’t hard to follow. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not suitable for most dogs given the scrambling. Ice could also be an issue right now. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Highly recommend these mountains! Beautiful views, a mountain tarn, low elevation alpine zone, just absolutely terrific hike. I hiked Little Jackson Connector to —> Parker Ridge Trail to Pond —> back to Pond Link Trail to —> Little Jackson Trail to summit and back to —> Jackson Trail to summit and back to —> Little Jackson Trail —> Little Jackson Connector. Though they aren’t needed, I also walked along some herd paths starting from Pond Link Trail, basically immediately after it’s jct with Parker Ridge Trail as the former turns right into the woods, that take you down to the pond.
Little Jackson Connector was a nice enough walk in the hardwoods with minor ups and downs but some of them less than gradual. Parker Ridge Trail was steeper and rougher than I imagined it would be after its initial easy ascent. Also, more difficult ledge scrambling than I would’ve anticipated higher up, especially with all the ice right now. I did a short OAB to the pond and saw three folk skating on it! Beautiful spot :)
After an initial ascent on Pond Link, the trail was pretty nice. Went through a little birch glade shortly thereafter. Nice spot. Descends slightly more aggressively the further east you go. Little Jackson Trail above Pond Link was pretty moderate. Some running water with frozen ice here. I then did an OAB to Little Jackson which was a delightful above treeline walk with a little scrambling. Then an OAB to Jackson which was a nice enough herd path (all below treeline) with a framed viewpoint or two. I continued down the snowmobile trail on my way back to visit the pond. Nice spot with a cabin. The trek all the way down Little Jackson Trail was pretty quick and easy.
On the note of traction and ice…the only spot I personally chose to throw on spikes was at the summit of Jackson and I used them back to around the jct with the snowmobile trail. There are many sketchy icy spots elsewhere both above (upper Parker Ridge Trail and upper Little Jackson Trail) and below treeline but they are not consistent enough for me to personally bother putting on spikes. That said, some may not be comfortable with this. The only place it made sense in my mind to use them was on Jackson where the cover became more consistent being beneath treeline. There was icy snow in here too which they were helpful for. The herd path/trail to Jackson was narrower than I imagined at times but trivial to follow if you’re experienced. Not too many blowdowns and a pretty nice footbed.
Gaia had me at almost 12mi with a little over 3800ft of gain. Took me a little less than 7hrs to complete. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-12-12 |
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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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