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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Saddleback Mountain, ME
Trails
Trails: Saddleback Uphill Trail, Appalachian Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, January 8, 2023
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at the resort - uphill access "opens" at 7, so was the first one in the lot. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Was hoping to hit Saddleback and the Horn. Not knowing what shape the AT is in from Route 4 in, and given how bad trail conditions have been so far this year, I opted for the Saddleback uphill route instead to make it a 7 miler instead of a 14. I bought and uphill pass online ($15) beforehand.

Except for at the very start, the uphill route is well signed and easy to follow. Just stay to the far right when you start heading up the slopes and you should see the skin track heading into the woods. After that, just follow the signs.

The trail was well packed all the way to the top, but I definitely needed showshoes (they also request no bare-booting). After getting to the top of the ski trails though and heading out towards the summit, it's a different story. The half mile up to the summit is pretty hard, frozen snow, but makes for fast snowshoeing. Once I hit Saddleback summit though, there is a lot of deep drifts, particularly on the leeward side.

I started heading towards the Horn, but winds were much stronger than forecasted and the blowing spindrift made for very poor visibility. There was no discernible tracks and it was not broken out at all. Given the wind and conditions, I left the Horn for another day.  
Name
Name: dr.gstjohn 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2023-01-09 
Link
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnKvCpoJaun/ 
Bookmark and Share 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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