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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Brother, ME
Trails
Trails: Marston Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, July 29, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The Marston trail is well marked on the right hand side of Park Tote Road, approximately 14 miles from the gatehouse. There is an outhouse (a nice clean one!) very close the parking lot.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All easy walk overs. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Marston trail is newly-blazed below tree line and cairns are well-placed above tree line. The upper section of Marston trail is very eroded with a few hand-to-foot holds but they shouldn't give you too much trouble. The trail is easy to follow and even if you have to hike it in the rain and fog. The trail is surprisingly flat most of the hike with two moderately steep sections. I would rate this trail Moderate steepness/Moderate length.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: No dogs are allowed in Baxter State Park 
Bugs
Bugs: None on the trail. A ton at Nesowadnehunk Field campground when I arrived at 5:00PM 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None. 
 
Comments
Comments: I reserved my stay at the Cozy Cabin in Nesowadnehunk Field Campground. I didn’t know what to expect because ‘cozy’ can mean different things to different people. I expected wood bunks and a roof. What got was two beds with mattresses, a wood stove, light, a field filled with blueberries ripe for picking, friendly rabbits, and an outdoor fire pit. I usually sleep in my car at the base of trailheads so I was glamping tonight. Also, Betsy the ranger, is wonderful to talk to and very helpful!

The light in the cabin....I had never seen this type of light before and I wasn’t sure how to work it. I have only used kerosene lamps and almost blew up Magalloway cabin using one incorrectly. So, understandably, I’m wary of anything that isn’t electric or battery operated.

I turned it on, nothing happened. I turned it off and stared at it. I looked around for directions, there were none. It had white mesh where a bulb would normally be. Curious, I touched it. DON'T do this. If you do, it will implode into a million white pieces of dust. Then you will sheepishly go to the ranger station and tell her you broke her light. Then she will have to interrupt her dinner to come and fix it for you. So, now I’m here to tell you how to work the light so you don’t make the same mistake. 1) Flip the switch to turn the light on, 2) flick your Bic and put it under the white mesh thingy (do not touch the mesh thingy - read above) 3) Voila! You have a gas light that doesn’t smell and lights up the room nicely.

And now there are 5 left on my list of 67...

 
Name
Name: Solowoodlandwanderer 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bugsandthings@comcast.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-07-30 
Link
Link: https://www.facebook.com/roberta.m.dellanno/media_set?set=a.10212437128596375.1073742308.1626231855&type=3&pnref=story 
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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