| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Locke Mountain, Barker Mountain, Barker Whitecap, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Summit Ridge Trail, Whitecap Cliffs Trail, XC ski trails, I Trail, J Trail, E Trail, bushwhack, Cascades Loop, Bingham Cascades Trail, White Oak Road |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, July 13, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Locke Mountain Road has some minor erosion, but most cars should be able to drive it to the trailhead with care. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
|
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Inland Woods & Trails has cut and flagged the East half of its new Whitecap Cliffs Trail--the route is easy to follow although they are still working on footway elements. I spoke with their Executive Director at the trailhead, who told me that IWT plans to cut the planned Lichen Ledge Trail from Barker down to Bingham Cascades this year. This will make possible a really nice loop over Barker & its peaks at Sunday River from Bethel Community Forest, including Locke Mtn & several waterfalls. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
Very few mosquitos. Some lingering black flies. Occasional deer flies. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
From the Locke Road parking lot at Bethel Community Forest: Hiked the IWT trail system over the south ridge of Locke Mtn (nice views) & down to the Barker-Locke col via IWT's newly cut and flagged Whitecap Cliffs Trail. Beyond the col, the new trail is only cut a short distance uphill, so I followed a logging road/ Sunday River Resort XC ski trails (easy to follow) N to the resort's summer hiking trail system partway up Barker Whitecap, ascending Barker Whitecap then Barker (also called Locke on some maps) & Barker's west ridge over some really sweet ledges via the Sunday River's I, J and E trails. These trails are mostly dedicated hiking trails (not ski trails) to the summit of Barker Whitecap, thence repurposed downhill ski trails (marked as hiking trails for summer use) over the west ridge of Barker. From there, I bushwhacked down "Lichen Ledge" (future location of another planned IWT trail) making my way down open ledges & through the woods to Library Cascades at IWT's Cascade Loop. I then followed IWT's Bingham Cascades Trail and White Oak Road back to the trailhead where IWT was just finishing up an event with pizza and beer. Wasn't expecting food, nice surprise. |
|
 | Name: |
Barefoot Paul |
|
 | E-Mail: |
paulwgagnon@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-07-14 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
