| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Table Rock, Baldpate Mountain - West West Peak, Baldpate Mountain - West Peak, Baldpate Mountain - East Peak, Long Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail, Table Rock Trail, bushwhack, Grafton Loop Trail, road walk |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, August 4, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We parked in the Grafton Notch State Park parking area where there's room for dozens of cars. Wasn't anywhere near full when we arrived at 5am or returned sometime around 7pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Everything was readily rock hopable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There were blowdowns throughout but most sections were relatively clear of them or there were pretty easily passed by. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Some ladders along the AT, coming down on the east side of East Baldpate along Grafton Loop, and Table Rock trails are all probably too much for most hiking dogs. Puzzle Mtn is ledgy but not difficult scrambling and the rest of Grafton Loop is pretty tame and there's certainly a good deal of water for them. |
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 | Bugs: |
If I recall correctly, they started off not bad but got worse as the day went on until it rained. Often the little gnats that big spray does nothing against too. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Unfortuantely I know forget where exactly the general areas were where there were a lot more blowdowns but I think it was in the general vicinity in and around Lightning Ledge (probably between East Baldpate Tentsite and Lane Tentsite) and then much further east, probably around Long Mtn. Table Rock Trail was blazed in red if I'm not mistaken. I don't thin the blazing was frequent but the trail is not difficult to follow. The AT is of course blazed in white and was not hard to follow in this section except with the possible section of on the ledge and above treeline on the Baldpates. The eastern section of Grafton Loop Trail is blazed in blue. I don't recall frequnecy but experienced hikers shouldn't have any trouble following it. There are some sections that are overgrown but overall it wasn't as overgrown as I expected it to be. As far as I recall, all signage was intact.
This hike has been on my list for a very long time and it FINALLY happened and, while enjoyable, I am glad to have it done! I did this with a friend and we did not have a second car so we took our chance and parked at the state park and hoped for someone to pick us up on the long roadwalk back. As anticipated, after a mile or two, someone took mercy on us and picked us up. We followed the Table Rock Trail then the AT over the Baldpates, then Grafton Loop Trail the rest of the way back to Rt 26. Along the way, I whacked to West West Baldpate, and hiked the spurs to East Balpate Campsite (not needed for redlining), Lightning Ledge (not needed for redlining), Lane Tentsite (NEEDED for redlining), Town Corner Tentsite (NEEDED for redlining), bushwhack to Long Mtn, Long Mtn Viewpoint (not needed for redlining), Stewart Tentsite (NEEDED for redlining). I could be wrong but I believe most or all of the tentsite spurs were blazed. Note that all the previously mentioned spurs are shown on Gaia except Stewart Tentsite, Long Mtn Viewpoint, and Lightning Ledge, only the first of which is needed, so not too tricky for redlining. I believe all spurs necessary for redlining were signed too though some could easily enough be walked passed and the spur to Lightning Ledge is not signed but is worth the trip. The spur to Long Mtn Viewpoint is probably less than 200ft but is steep.
While Table Rock Trail contours for a short while, when it does begin to ascend, it does so quite rapidly, gaining well over 500ft in 0.3mi. Usually it's just very steep, but there was one spot with some boulder scrambling as well. Great views from the top! Gentle descent from there back to the AT. From here to the HOL between Hedgehog Hill and West West Baldpate (WW Baldpate) the trail gains elevation but not excessively so. I started my whack to WW Balpdate from the HOL where my friend took a nap, lol. I began in open woods which looked like they'd get thick quickly and a bit blowdowny, but this was short lived. The rest of the way to the summit area was pretty open, usually steep but not excessively so, and had signs of moose. The trees got a little tighter around the summit, but not what I'd call thick and it was not difficult to find the register. I took more or less the same line back down to the HOL but and popped out maybe a few dozen yards north of where I started my whack. To my surprise, I seemed to avoid the short, thick, blowdown area I encountered on my way up.
After a respite between here and Baldpate Lean-to (had been there before and not needed for redlining so bypassed it this time) we then began the long climb up West Baldpate. Some wet slab and steep but not crazy steep. I kept thinking that we'd come out into the open before finally recalling that this peak was wooded and it wouldn't be until we were on the other side of it that we'd have views. Of course we were in the cloud anyway. The climb up East Baldpate was steep and scrambly but relatively easy scrambling and much shorter than the climb up west. Long, steep, sometimes scrambly climb down East Peak. From here to most of the way to Long Mtn, the going is both pretty easy and pretty boring. We definitely felt the climb up Long Mtn it's staggered and not terribly steep so it wasn't awful. The trail does not go to the summit of Long Mtn so I made the short whack to the top of it. A few different spots you may go to before finding the register but nothing ridiculous. Cool summit area.
From here to the base of Puzzle Mtn was pretty easy. As anticipated, the climb up Puzzle Mtn was brutal at the end of the day. The fact that we were at such a low elevation (1600ft), it was terribly hot, and HORRIFICALLY humid (I think this was the most consistently humid day I've ever hiked) did not help. When we made it to the Stewart Tentsite Spur, it began to rain and thunder. Nothing terrible and we carefully made our way to the Woodsum Spur Jct by which time the rain had more or less stopped. We were careful on the wet ledge but most of the rock you'll find here is pretty grippy even when wet. Long but doable descent from here out and we got some great views too.
Still lots of mud and wet areas even wth the dry weather and of course everthing got more wet after the thunder showers. Not including the mile or two road walk at the end of the day, the guidebook had us at 23mi, 6600ft of gain, 13hr10min. I think that the guidebook underestimates the elevation gain on this one (as I'm sure my GPS did as well). |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-08-12 |
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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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