| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Brother, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Williams Pond Road, Park Tote Road, Marston Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 23, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at end of Williams Pond Rd. Golden Rd was in great shape, Telos Rd hadn't been plowed from snow the night before, but was still passable with 10" light powder. Telos was plowed and in great shape when we returned 2 days later. The pull-off at Williams Pond Rd (not marked but between mile marker 35 & 36, on the right shortly after Lake Harrington) could fit a handful of cars but hadn't been plowed since the last few storms so we shoveled out a spot. Baxter isn't recommending this entry spot anymore for Nesowadnehunk (though acknowledge people still use it) because they don't own the land and can't vouch for the plowing. Had more snow fallen the day of our arrival or departure, I could imagine Telos not passable until plows came.
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|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All were bridged or easy step-overs. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Very narrow corridor - lots of face-slappers and blowdowns along upper
part of Marston Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs in Baxter. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing |
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|
 | Comments: |
No evidence of recent travel on Williams Pond Rd, so we snowshoed in through 10-12" light fluffy powder. (WPR has had some snowmobile traffic this winter as you could definitely feel it when you stepped off the track). Stayed at Camp Cozy at Nesowadnehunk Field CG. Nice cabin, scenic area, perfect for 2, would feel snug with all 4 bunks filled. Monday morning, we snowshoed down the Tote Rd (on packed snowmobile tracks) for 3.5 miles to Marston trailhead. Pleasantly surprised to see a Donna D's group had been there a few days before. Their trough was visible below 6" powder and made it easy going to the pond (above the Coe Trail junction). Above that their tracks disappeared in the drifts and snow, we caught faint sign of them here and there, but the going got a lot tougher. As Donna reports, the trail corridor gets pretty tight with the high snow pack and blowdowns - lots of pushing through and ducking under. No sign is visible at junction with N Brother spur trail. Summit cone is a mix of wind-scorn snow and ice, but snowshoes were sufficient.
Between the frigid below-zero temps and deep snow, we didn't entertain the idea of Fort, Coe or S Brother, and opted to return to the woodstove at Camp Cozy. Easy but cold hike out the next morning. Saw no one at all during our 3 days in Baxter.
One of the coldest days we've ever spent in the mountains - but a beautiful way to wrap up our Winter 67! |
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 | Name: |
Jeff & Karine |
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 | E-Mail: |
Klossner.jeffrey@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-02-24 |
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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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