| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Saddleback Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 24, 2010 |
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 | 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: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | 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: |
Half a dozen big blowdowns. Easy under, over or around them all. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | 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: |
DerekF |
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 | E-Mail: |
drf77@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2010-01-27 |
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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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