| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Stone Mountain, Burnt Meadow Mountain - North Peak, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Burnt Meadow Trail, Twin Brook Trail, Stone Mountain Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 28, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking area is not plowed. I don’t know if this is always the case in winter or not but you can park 0.4mi north along Rt 160 at the boat access to Burnt Meadow Pond. There are signs at the back end saying no parking but I think that’s just for to be sure that people in summer don’t block the boat access. I was the first one there around 7am but I think there were nearly a dozen cars upon my return at 1pm. The lot is icy but sanded and accessible by any car. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Trivial |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Burnt Meadow Trail is blazed in blue as is Stone Mtn Trail. Twin Brook Trail is blazed in yellow. All were relatively well blazed. Blazes are beneath the snow on ledge presumably up high on Burnt Meadow Trail so that’s really the only spot you won’t see any. The blazing looked a bit old on Stone Mtn Trail but was still visible. I don’t recall a single blowdown! Signs are intact but do not give distances. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I don’t believe I saw any but sure |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
There’s a Hillsound wrapped around a tree at the bottom nearby the kiosk. It could get covered up if we get a lot more snow. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
This hike fit the bill well since I didn’t have the whole day to hike. That said, miserable conditions abounded. A pretty nasty crust everywhere. The kind that when you fall into it you saw “Oww!”. The kind where when you kick snow up at your butt when you take another step with your snowshoe, it leaves a black and blue mark on your ass. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little and I have seen worse, but still ;P Very slow going, especially on any incline even remotely steep. I was relieved when a group of three passed me going the other direction just before the summit of north peak in snowshoes, knowing that it would be broken out from there. Although there were some mild snow showers in the morning, the sun had come out at this point and warmed things up too. I was surprised to see many people coming up as I was headed down; don’t know if they were doing the loop like that group of three though. At this point, the trail was mashed potatoes in the warm air and sun. Still way easier than the crust I’d dealt with.
I hiked the loop counterclockwise as I didn’t want to go up the steep ridge with the crust. Going down it was fine. A little steep/scrambly but not too bad. The snowshoe track deviates from the true trail here just a bit to cut out some switchbacks. Mr. Purist Redliner broke it out correctly. I’d kind of recommend doing the loop counterclockwise unless the steep decent is worrisome for you because the feeling of coming down that narrow ridge with open views among the shrubbery was just magnificent. I LOVED this part of the hike. Felt very unique.
Trails were pretty well blazed and followable even with no snowshoe trough. Took me a few at times but never really went off trail. Gaia had me at 5.5mi, 1850ft of gain, 5.5.hrs. This does NOT include the 0.4mi road walk each way. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-01-29 |
|
 | 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. |
|
