Bald Mountain, Sunday River Whitecap, South Puzzle Mountain - Grafton Loop Trail - 9-3-2012

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Bald Mountain, Sunday River Whitecap, South Puzzle Mountain, ME

	Trails:	Grafton Loop Trail

	Date of Hike:	Monday, September 3, 2012

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Parking at eastern section trailhead. Walk route 26 for 0.6 miles to reach the western section trailhead.

	Surface Conditions:	Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

	Recommended Equipment:

	Water Crossing Notes:	All water crossings are minor and crossable on rocks some of which may be slippery. Water depths are shallow.

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	Trails in good condition. On the western section of Grafton Loop there were a few blow downs including a maple which can be walked around. Minor erosion in western section which could be remedied by water bars. Nice rocks steps and wood steps in steeper ledge section of Sargent Mtn spur. Blazes are infrequent between Bald Mtn and Sunday River Whitecap which is no problem at this time of year as the pathway is evident. Following the western section of the trail near the beginning can be tricky with one sign obscured by leaves and another set back from the logging road. Generally follow the snowmobile route until the Grafton Loop trail sign points to the path leading in to the woods.

	Dog-Related Notes:	Trails good for dogs although some sections are dry.

	Bugs:	None except for black flies on route 26 in the afternoon.

	Lost and Found:


	Comments:	A great day for an aerial show as a peregrine falcon flew low over Sunday River Whitecap and soared overhead. Checked out the Sargent Brook campsite. It had four sites, a bear box, and an outhouse. The brooks on the way in to the campsites were dry. At 4:30PM started out for Puzzle Mtn and managed to get above the western terminus of the Woodsum Spur trail and was perhaps a tenth of a mile from the summit of Puzzle Mtn before I turned back at 6:00PM to get back by sunset. The Grafton Loop Trail is a nice addition to the trail system. Sunday River Whitecap and the ledges of Puzzle Mtn have great views.

	Name:	WAUMBEK

	E-Mail:	WAUMBEK at Roadrunner dot com

	Date Submitted:	2012-09-03

	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.