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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Saddleback Mountain, ME
Trails
Trails: Appalachian Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, January 24, 2010
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking lot not plowed. We parked up route 4 about 1/4 mile on a straight section rather than on the corner near the lot. Left a note on the dash letting them know we were hiking and when we'd be back. Trooper tagged the car as unattended but nothing else. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Just a few small open spots along the trails. Nothing big and easy to hop over or go around. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Half a dozen big blowdowns. Easy under, over or around them all. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: It appears we were the first people to use the AT in a while. About a foot of fresh powder and pretty soft under that too. We hiked to Mud Pond and camped there Saturday night and did the rest Sunday. Bare-booted to Piazza Rock area and then snowshoes were a must. Faint trail/depression was possible to follow about half the time until treeline. Trees from Eddy pond and up were covered in heavy ice/snow and hanging low on the trail. Then it was all rhime and crusty snow/ice to the summit. Minimal spruce traps. Snowshoe crampons were enough traction for us.

A beautiful day with views NE to Katahdin 102 miles away and beyond, SE to Washington and the Whites and everything in between. Got some great pictures and had a great weekend out.  
Name
Name: DerekF 
E-Mail
E-Mail: drf77@aol.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2010-01-27 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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