| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Schoodic Mountain, Black Mountain - West Peak, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Schoodic Mountain Trail, Schoodic Beach Trail, Black Mountain Summit Trail, Black Mountain Cliff Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, March 14, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I drove basically he entire way down Schoodic Beach Rd but I shouldn't have. Snow/ice began partway down the road but then suddenly became much worse at the crest of a hill and I wasn't able to turn around. I proceeded down the hill at a snail's pace in 1st gear and still managed to slide as it was basically a sheet of ice, then pulled off and turned around at a pulloff basically at the end of the road. By the time I finished hiking, the ice had softened a bit, and having one wheel on the side of the road in the snow and one on the ice, I was just BARELY able to make it out. Seriously wouldn't recommend this without 4WD and chains though. I was lucky... |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Easy |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I believe all trails were blazed in blue, sometimes faded, not sure how frequent, but I don't remember anything being difficult to follow with the possible exception of along the ledges. There was a small cluster of small blowdowns almost at the start of Schoodic Mtn Trail. A few mid-sized widow makers/duck unders on Black Mtn Summit Trail. Somewhere up high there was a cluster of some larger blowdowns around Black Mtn but I don't recall where exactly, sorry. I think they were trees that were uprooted so the trail may just go around now. Probably a few others that I'm forgetting about. Jcts were all signed. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure, just watch for the ice and they might need a little help on the ledges. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
First hike of the day. I ascended Schoodic Mtn Trail, descended Schoodic Beach Trail, walked the road back to the parking area, ascended Black Mtn Summit Trail, descended Black Mtn Cliff Trail, then walked the road back to my car though going in the reverse direction would be fine too. Sharp spikes are absolutely needed but you're going to be taking them on/off. There was some ice at the very start of Schoodic Mtn Trail but I took them off not too long thereafter and left them off until a very serious ice flow not long before treeline. Once above treeline you don't need them as virtually all ice/snow seems to have melted above treeline. Spikes needed for the walk down to the beach. Fantastic views of course. Gaia had me at 7mi, 1850ft of gain, 4hr. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-03-20 |
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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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