Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Coburn Mountain, ME |
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| Trails: |
Coburn Moutain Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The first 2.1mi on Enchanted Mountain Rd is in way better shape than it was at the time the last guidebook was written. Low clearance vehicles should be fine. The right hand turn 2.1mi is onto a road that’s a little rougher/slightly washed out. Maybe you’d need mid-clearance for that. Low clearance might still be okay with care though. I parked at the jct of this road and the road the “trail” starts on where there’s room for a car or two to pull off. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
The road is so completely washed out in spots that you could argue that there’s now a water crossing that you can see on Gaia with the topo lines. The old road also roughly follows a drainage for much of its way, so is very wet and, especially at high water, will have a good deal of running water on it. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Other than some pink flagging where the footpath leaves the snowmobile trail, I don’t think the trail was marked in any sort of way though there was a sign at the base saying that Coburn Mtn was 1.5mi away (though I think this is if you follow the road the whole way rather than turning right onto the snowmobile trail, then right onto the footpath again). The “road” is the single most washed out road I have ever seen. The footpath is overgrown and tight but in fine shape for an unnofficial trail. I only remember one larger blowdown obscuring the footpath in some ferns; a herd path goes around it. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Due to the conditions of the “road” right now, this hike is a lot sketchier than it seems. I’d be very careful bringing children or dogs on this hike. |
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| Bugs: |
Yup. No ticks (or at least very rare) this far north though! |
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| Lost and Found: |
None |
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| Comments: |
A very late start on this due to some last minute AirBnB scheduling conflicts that I spent the morning trying to resolve, meant that I started just in time for the rain and thunder….which meant I got an even later start as I waited out the rain in my car for 1.5hrs ;P
The road resembles a road fora short ways but soon meets the drainage and is totally washed out. I’ve never seen a “road” in this sort of condition. It makes the washout on Breezy Point Rd on Moosilauke look like a wuss! At times, the trenches were about as tall as I am. This made for slow going and rather difficult and dangerous walking. I thought I was pretty careful with my footing but I still had some large rocks move under my feet and such. And it’s only going to get worse with more rain and people hiking on it. I’d be very careful with animals or children on this road that they don’t end up dislodging a rock and end up hurting themselves or others.
The guidebooks distances are off. The snowmobile trail and radio station are not 0.5mi into the road but about 1mi in. From there, it is about 150ft right along the snowmobile trail to another right marked by a small cairn and pink surveyors tape just as the guidebook says. Just as the story of the contour lines tell, the trail starts off gradual enough but soon becomes incredibly steep. No real scrambling though and no cliff bands; just really bloody steep! Of course all the rock and vegetation was wet due to the downpour as well. This footpath was overgrown and could be a bit obscure/hard to follow for beginners. Bear right around a blowdown down low on the path although another path seems to go left.
The trail dumps you out at the second radio station and the summit. The fire tower is just to the right. I climbed it (ladder) and was treated to great but hazy views to due to the thunder and humidity. I considered making a loop and following the road/snowmobile trail back down (which, after the first radio station did appear to actually resemble a road) but opted to just follow the footpath back down instead. Gaia had me at 2.4mi, 1225ft of gain, 2hrs. |
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| Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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| E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-07-10 |
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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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