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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Abraham, ME
Trails
Trails: Logging roads, Mt. Abraham Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I was able to drive almost exactly 6 miles in from 16/27. A couple of cars can park there but not much more. Rapid Stream Road is pure ice but as it is flat it is okay with some caution. This road is also very narrow between the snowbanks - 2 cars cannot pass each other. I think my walk to the proper trailhead was about 1 mile. Note: there are supposed to be 2 bridges on the walk to the trailhead - crossing Rapid Stream and a tributary - but they are washed out. It is not a problem now with snow/ice bridges but when the thaw comes it could be a challenge. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All bridged but should not be trusted completely. I punched through on one occasion and stepped into low water. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Several blowdowns along the trail. Some might be easy "duck-unders" when the snow is gone but now they are bit awkward. Trail is very well blazed - easy to follow. Above tree-line there are some cairns but they are small and not easy to spot. In poor visibility they are pretty much useless.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Would not recommend dogs on this trail. The ice-snow crust provides very poor traction and for larger dogs - punching through - the risk of cuts is high. Above tree-line there are some steep sections with long drop-offs. Any slip there could result i bad accidents. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Unfortunately new snow and rain had combined to pretty much erase previous trail-breaking work (see Mike V's 2-15 report). I was punching through ice/snow crust all the way to tree-line. At higher elevation the snow has now compacted substantially and I would only occasionally sink deeper than 6-8".
I decided to stay with snowshoes above tree-line and the Ascent Lightening provided sufficient traction - especially a concern on the descent. However, given a second chance I would change to crampons.  
Name
Name: LongMark 
E-Mail
E-Mail: perfrost@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-02-25 
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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