| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Megunticook, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Road walk, Multi-Use Trail, Summer Bypass Trail, Sky Blue Trail, Cameron Mountain Trail, Zeke’s Trail, Slope Trail, Ridge Trail, Megunticook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, January 5, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
With the park closed for the season and everything gated, you’ll be parking a short distance from Rt 1, necessitating a little road walk. Plenty of room many dozen cars. No one there when I arrived at 7:30am and one when I returned (that parked in a different lot) at 12:30pm. No snow at the time so the point was moot but I don’t know if this gets plowed in winter…probably?? |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Easily rock hopable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Most trails are marked in two ways: one, with blue blaze, sometimes faded, and not always frequent, and two, with symbols tacked to trees. The Ski Shelter Trail is only blazed in blue. Summer Bypass had red hearts, Sky Blue had blue X’s, the short section of Cameron Mtn Trail I was on I don’t know about, Zeke’s was Red Crescent moons, Slope Trail was yellow triangles, and Megunticook Trail has yellow stars. There was a decent sized stepover blowdown on the ground that hadn’t been totally delimbed on Sky Blue Trail. A couple stepover/straddler blowdowns right next to each other on Zeke’s Trail quickly followed by a much larger blowdown that hadn’t been delimbed and was easiest to go around. Trail signs at jcts were usually present although I think some along the Ski Shelter Trail were not and some seemed rather old and like they could be in better shape. The trail jcts around Ocean Lookout are very confusing. See my previous trail report for the area. I’d recommend they do something about this. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
In general, sure. I’d be careful with them given the current icy situations on some trails though. They may not see it much like me! Also, park rules clearly state dogs must be leashes at all times. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
A very late trail report for my first hike on my second full day of staying in Rockland. Cold and windy and not too much in the way of views. My route: Ski Shelter/Multi-Use Trail to —> north end of Summer Bypass Trail —> Summer Bypass Trail south back to —> Ski Shelter Trail to —> Sky Blue Trail to —> Cameron Mtn Trail South to —> Zeke’s Trail east —> Ski Shelter Trail to —> Slope Trail to —> Ridge Trail south to —> Megunticook Trail to Mt Battie Rd with short OAB on spur to campground/Ski Shelter Trail (also labelled as Megunticook Trail) as well.
A light dusting of snow had fallen the night before. No other snow really. The ledge around Oceans Lookout and higher up on Megunticook Trail where there’s lots of rock/erosion/below tree line mini-slab was icy. Mostly black ice that was hard to see and avoid. I didn’t wear spikes and not sure they would’ve really helped. Just needed to go slow around this section of trail and unfortunately you may need to step off it.
Watch out for a sharp right hand turn off a road and onto a footpath on Sky Blue Trail near its eastern start. I liked this trail. Only other place where you could get screwed up/off trail is at Oceans Lookout where there’s Megunticook Trail seems to meet Ridge Trail in two different places, one of which is unmarked…but there’s yellow stars in the woods. It’s weird. Gaia had me just shy of 11mi with 1800ft of gain, taking just under 5hrs. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-01-12 |
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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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