| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Eagle Rock , ME |
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 | Trails: |
Road walk, Old Eagle Rock Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, August 10, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I followed the directions in the guidebook. As far as I recall, the roads were suitable for low clearance cars. That being said, there’s a bridge with a caution side over a small hole in it 0.4mi east of the trailhead. You could still drive over it but seeing two more small holes in the bridge where the dirt/gravel had been washed out, I decided to play it safe and park before the bridge. That being said, I saw a truck certainly heavier than my car drive over it safely. So I guess the point is that it looks sketchy but won’t collapse under you just yet?? I parked roadside on grass (pretty narrow) just before the bridge. I was the only one there at 1:15pm and 3:30pm. One car at the parking area I passed by at 1:30pm that had left when I returned. Just roadside parking for several cars at the trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I don’t believe there were any. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trail is blazed in blue. A little faded but not too bad. I don’t recall the frequency. No problem following for experienced hikers. Maybe a little if you’re new to it. No trailhead and the trail can be easy to walk by. There’s orange surveyors tape at the start of the trail. One large duck or crawl under 20-25min in. There were others too as the guidebook indicates but that’s the only one I have a time stamped photo of ;P Not too numerous or unnegotiable though. They’re delimbed so that they’re easy enough to get through but beyond that seem to largely remain there. The bottom rung of the ladder is starting to rot away. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen. Getting them up the ladder would probably be my biggest worry. I’d use care with them at the summit as well. Beyond that, hiking dogs should be okay. |
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 | Bugs: |
I don’t recall them being too bad. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
5th and final day in New Vineyard (and on the way to Millinocket!) was spent cleaning up this area. The trail was as advertised in the guidebook. Starts off gradual, for steeper. Clearly not an official trail hit not hard to follow if you’re experienced by any means. Just watch for turns. Relatively lightly travelled. Steep at times but not real scrambly. The rope isn’t necessary except maybe in winter and the ladder isn’t scary although the bottom rung is rotting out. The steep ledge up to the summit is always fun to scramble up and the summit itself is marvelously unique and fun. Great views too. I don’t remember too much about ground conditions but probably safe to assume that there was plenty of mud. The base of the slab up to the summit was wet too but not difficult to negotiate. On the descent, there is one very obscure right turn where it would be very easy to miss the trail as you go up and over some rocks/small rise. Not so hard to follow if ascending. Gaia had me at 3.75mi, almost 1300ft of gain, 2hrs (including short road walk of about 0.4mi each way). |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-08-16 |
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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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