| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Speckled Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Bickford Brrook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 23, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Park at gate at end of Rte 113, park along right side as left is used by snowmobiles, head up 113 on snowmobile trail 1/4 mile to trailhead. NOTE for those heading here or to the baldfaces, Rte 113 is a constant stretch of frost heaves and bumps which are not flagged and can sneak up on you, you'll want to drive a slower than the posted limit or you might find your vehicle going airborne. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only one of any size which was snow covered |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Three large blowdowns - one stepover on the switchbacks in the open woods, one duckunder on stretch that skirts Ames Mountain, toughest was just below summit - duckunder didn't have my small saw and branches were too green to break so you'll need to push through the branches |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A nice easy grade for the canines though some of the drift might trip them up |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A great day on the mountain with blue skies and unlimited views, sun was as bright as I've seen in a while. Snowshoes a must for this trail right now. Trail is well broken out to lower junction with Blueberry Ridge trail on somewhat wet snow today though it wasn't sticky, fair amount of traffic over to blueberry mountain. Only one set of snowshoe tracks above this so my friend and I did our best to consolidate the trail, it's in good shape up to Spruce Hill trail junction though even in snowshoes we were sinking in spots. From Spruce hill to upper blueberry ridge junction snow was softer and drier with a bit of crust though drifted in along the section skirting Ames Mountain, A narrow track is broken out but needs some more work. Managed to sink a foot or more in several of the drifts; only one set of tracks coming up blueberry ridge trail. Drifts continued past upper blueberry ridge junction in the trees, managed to get swallowed by one with both snowshoes; sank up to my waist, I thrashed around and got out but apologies for the hole I left which is still 18 inches deep. Back to solid snowshoe track on final push to the summit. |
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 | Name: |
Brian from Maine |
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 | E-Mail: |
brobert1@maine.rr.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-02-23 |
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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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