| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Caribou Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Bog Road, Caribou Trail, Mud Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, April 29, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Bog Rd was blocked off at the Pooh Corner Farm winter parking. The USFS had a sign up saying residential traffic only (which I assume referred to the locals) due to soft road. It was a bit soft but more importantly there was a large pine blowdown across the road a ways up from there which had been delimbed but was a total block. A small part of the road had its surface washed away by high water and the ditches are blocked by debris in several places. So it may be some time before the road is opened. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Dry rocks available. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There was some erosion in the wheel track of the forest road just past the gate at the trailhead. The trail after it veers off the left branch of that road is a mix of nice trailbed, flowing water, leaf covered mud stretches, washed out sections and a lot of even the good had been washed clean of its leaves. Many of the waterbars were partially plugged or bypassed I unplugged or padded a few but it was a drop in the bucket. While those waterbars could be cleared by a regular TM, the bad sections need a trail crew. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Easy hike for a dog as it is mostly old logging roads, and the Mud Pond section was supportive snow. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few black flies down low were noticed. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
This is a not ready for prime time way to reach Caribou at the moment, from the road access to the wet/eroded/muddy Caribou trail. The Mud Pond trail section from Caribou to the summit is still mostly snow, ofttimes 1-2 feet or so deep, with some thinner sections covering running or standing water, and short open running/standing water stretches. Today the sky was overcast and the temps up high still cool after a cold night, so that with care I could rely on old snowshoe print crust to hold me up. If I had snowshoes I would have used them to speed things up considerably, except in the bare spots. If it had been a warm day I would have skipped the Mud Pond stretch to avoid potholing and soaking my feet when it broke through into the running water. The summit was chilly in the gusty wind. |
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 | Name: |
Zero |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-29 |
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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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