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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Saddleback Mountain, Saddleback Mountain - The Horn, ME
Trails
Trails: Ski trails, Saddleback Side Trail, Appalachian Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, July 9, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at Saddleback ski area. Ski area was recently sold, but there don't appear to be any changes to the uphill policy. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No blowdowns. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Minimal, perhaps due to wind. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Ascended the ski slopes by the usual Grey Ghost to Tri Color route, which has a well worn footbed. One can pick it up in front of the main lodge, at the top of the mowed area (slabs under the first, little chairlift to Grey Ghost. Some minor mud, but otherwise no issues, and the footbed is wide enough that you're not walking through tall grass.

Appalachian Trail was mostly dry with some small patches of mud in the cols. There is a new trail that ascends to the base of the Saddleback cone (east of the peak) called Berry Picker's Trail. It comes up from the Fly Rod Trail on the south side of the mountain and opened last September. It appears one could use that as a loop with either the AT or the ski area (via the pond to the west) with some ups and downs.

Descended via the ski area work road (Green Weaver), which was loose on the upper half, but not bad on the lower half.

Highlight of the hike was the amazing amount of lupine. The lower half of the ski trails was virtually wall to wall lupine, so thick that one can see the purple color from the ridge.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-07-10 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
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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