| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Moxie Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Moxie Mountain South Trail, outlook spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 10, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Getting to the trailhead was an adventure of its own. From ME 201 near the Moscow/Bingham town line, I turned onto Donigan Rd and then right onto Frith Rd, which turned to dirt after a few miles, to a four-way junction at six miles from Donigan Rd. From here, I turned right on to Ripple Rd (Chase Pond Rd, which is the left turn, had a sign saying "Construction Zone- Unauthorized Vehicles Prohibited") and followed it for two miles to Dead Water Rd. From there, I turned left onto Dead Water Rd. for about 0.4 mi and then veered left onto Heald Pond Rd. Drove that road for about 3.5 miles, then turned right (sign for Moxie Mountain Trail was on a tree at the junction) and drove for a mile to the trailhead. Room for a few cars in the grassy clearings nearby. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No crossings |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trail was marked decently well and easy to follow. No blowdowns or debris to speak of. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
While short, this hike is fairly steep in spots with no real guaranteed water sources, so make sure to bring extra water for Fido. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few buzzing around me, but overall not bad. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The first part of the trail followed an old, grassy woods road before turning right at a junction (marked with a cairn and a sign) and climbing steeply on a standard footpath. A little over halfway up is when I encountered the first open ledges, and the closer I got to the top, the better the ledges (and the views from them) got. Near a junction about 0.4 mi from the top, a spur path marked "Outlook" diverged left. This spur led to a ledge overlook with sweeping views that felt like something one would find on a much higher mountain.
The summit had a couple solar panels and a helipad; there was a good view from the helipad, and underneath it was an ammo box with a hiker register. Just before the summit was a ledge with another amazing, far-reaching view which was where I took my summit break. After 20 minutes or so, I descended the way I came.
What a hike and mountain this turned out to be! Lots of awesome scenery and rugged terrain crammed into 1.6 miles, so the bang-for-your-buck factor is very high. Also a total coin flip compared to Boundary Bald in terms of weather- no rain, mostly sunny skies, mild temps, little to no wind, and bone dry trail. Didn't see anyone on this hike, either! |
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 | Name: |
Spencer |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-09-10 |
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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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