| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bigelow Mountain - Avery Peak, Bigelow Mountain - West Peak, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Stratton Brook Pond Road, Firewarden's Trail, Appalachian Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked approximately .2 miles in on Stratton Brook Pond Road. Room for approximately 4 vehicles. Road is plowed to this point. Recommend exiting Pond Loop Road as easier to enter onto rt27. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Minor flows easily crossed but not solidly bridged. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few duck unders and a few stepovers on Firewardens Trail. Overall in excellent shape and well blazed |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not today |
|
 | Bugs: |
A few random insects flying around |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Excellent team hike of these two peaks. Very strange to hike to the col in January in a t-shirt. Started at 6 a.m. bareboot and switched quickly to snow shoes. Followed snowmobile tracks in for a bit as well as cross country ski tracks from the day before.An obvious trench on the trail with minimal new snow upto approx 8"+ at upper elevations.We saw three nice moose at approximately 2600 feet that disappeared as quickly as spotted.Snow was a crusty slippery mix and difficult to gain traction at upper elevations to the col. Sidehilling was abundant heading to Avery Peak with drifts to the side of the trail nearly as deep as the trekking poles. Skies were moody at the summit and winds were spicy especially on Avery. West Peak was unbroken and lightly drifted over. Descending involved a bit of unintentional butt sledding in a couple of spots. Mashed potatoes on the way out due to warming. Overall a fun 1st winter hike for me of these two. |
|
 | Name: |
scottb |
|
 | E-Mail: |
Mainebeefman@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-01-18 |
|
 | 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. |
|
