| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Abraham, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Rapid Stream Road, Fire Wardens Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 25, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking is very limited. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There are three (3) water crossings and a handful of drainage crossings. The first water crossing is no longer bridged. It was bridged when I started across, and no longer bridged by the time I got across. What is remaining is not stable. The other crossings and drainages are easily managed. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The mileage to the trailhead proper via Rapid Stream Road is 3 miles. Easily barebooted on packed snowmobile trails. The first 2.5 miles of the Fire Warden's trail was an absolute joy. Very pleasant hike through nice open woods. The last 1.5 miles gains near 2000 feet in elevation. Below tree line the trail is steep in sections, but nothing way out of the ordinary. Once you break out of the trees, the ascent gets very steep.
Dusting to an inch of new snow. I used snowshoes on the trail below tree line. Encountered one other hiker, also using snow shoes. There is a good track forming, but it was getting soft by the end of the day. Warmer temps will almost certainly require snow shoes. Also used snow shoes for the summit ascent above tree line. Terrain was windswept with some minor drifting, but mostly very grippy rime ice, life Styrofoam. Heel risers were an absolute blessing. There is one section where the trail runs through a small stand of trees, with deep snow, where the trail is hard to follow. Went in deep on a couple of spruce traps. On the descent, I changed to trail crampons above tree line, then put the snowshoes back on for the rest of the trail.
The segment above tree line is seriously steep and potentially dangerous. There is a great deal of exposure. Full crampons and an ice ax would be appropriate. Light traction, like microspikes, are not sufficient. |
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 | Name: |
Del |
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 | E-Mail: |
dlefevre@tarbellpa.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-02-26 |
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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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