Blueberry Mountain (attempt) - Stone House Trail - 3-17-2018

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Blueberry Mountain (attempt), ME

	Trails:	Stone House Trail

	Date of Hike:	Saturday, March 17, 2018

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Parking is .2 miles down stone house road which is used as a connector for snowmobile trails. Road is snow packed but is easily navigated. Limited room off the snowmobile corridor for 2-3 cars right now. Walk the road to the summer parking lot - about a mile and then .5 miles to the actual trail head.

	Surface Conditions:	Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts

	Recommended Equipment:	Snowshoes

	Water Crossing Notes:	A few trickles breaking through the snow but no difficulty

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	No Blazing past the wilderness Boundary but trail is easy to follow even with the snow cover

	Dog-Related Notes:	Generally an easy one but the deep snow right now might be challenging.

	Bugs:

	Lost and Found:


	Comments:	Looking for a short afternoon hike and thought this would be an easy trip to a great view but the snow ended up making it a challenge. No traffic on this trail for a while as it was unbroken before the 2 of us started. Walked the road in 4-6 inches of powder on top of a packed base (the road had been plowed at some time in the past); some drifting as you cross the airstrip to the trail head. Heading up the trail started with 4-6 inches of powder at the trailhead which kept getting deeper as we continued. Past Rattlesnake gorge trail was nothing but unpacked powder - we spent much of the time breaking through powder over our knees. We made it to the steep section about .3 mile below the top before turning around. There is a good track up to this point but you'll still want snowshoes as it is unconsolidated. For those going beyond our turnaround point plan on breaking trail through a couple feet of loose powder.

	Name:	Brian from Maine

	E-Mail:	brobert1@maine.rr.com

	Date Submitted:	2018-03-18

	Link:	https://
		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.