| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Tracy Pond, Elbow Pond, Grassy Pond, Daicey Pond , ME |
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 | Trails: |
Tracy and Elbow Ponds Trail, Grassy Pond Trail, Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 12, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There’s a small parking area on the south side of the road just south of the start of Tracy and Elbow Ponds Trail. One other car there when I arrived at 3:45pm and left at 5pm. A day pass to BSP is $16 for non-residents and a season pass is $42. The road has many potholes but should be passable by any car. |
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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 think there were any that weren’t bridged but the crossings of the outlets of Tracy and Elbow Pond some may not love as they’re just bog bridge well above deep water with no railings. On one of them, I believe it was Elbow Pond, the bog bridges did not extend the entire way to dry ground so large downed trees were also used. Everything was stable enough but despite these being rather flat trails and a scenic little loop, older and less agile people may jog love these crossings. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Tracy and Elbow Ponds Trail I believe is just signed as “Elbow Pond Trail”. Both this and Grassy Pond Trail were blazed in blue. Some newer and dark and some very old and faded I think. I don’t recall frequency but pretty easy to follow. The AT is blazed in white. I don’t recall frequency. Trail signs were intact and I don’t recall any blowdowns on any of the trails. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs allowed in BSP. |
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 | Bugs: |
I think they were out, especially by this time in the afternoon, but the mosquitos still weren’t as bad as they were around the Kettle Ponds and nearby trails. Ticks are quite rare this far north. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
3rd and final hike of the day on our 2nd day in Millinocket after redlining Rum Pond and Cranberry Pond with mom and dad, and Kettle Pond, Abol Stream, and Abol Pond trails by myself.
Note that a very short road walk of maybe a couple hundred feet is needed from the parking area to the start of Tracy and Elbow Ponds Trail (signed just as Elbow Pond Trail). I hiked this short and scenic lollipop loop in a clockwise direction, hiking Grassy Pond Trail first. Overall, I don’t think this route was terribly muddy but there was definitely some VERY soft trail and mud where Tracy and Elbow Ponds Trail walks alongside the southern side of Elbow Pond as it nears the jct with Grassy Pond Trail. Fantastic views from some of the ponds and the ponds themselves were also very scenic. The woods surrounding some of these trails were also often beautifully covered with lush green moss. Gaia had me at roughly 3mi, 225ft of gain, 1hr15min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-08-22 |
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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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