| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Sachem Peak, Acteon Ridge (Middle Peak), Bald Knob, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Old Waterville Road Trail, Pine Flats Trail, Yellow Jacket Trail, Smarts Brook Trail, herd path, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, September 27, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Six Mile Bridge off Route 49. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Lower crossings were all bridged. Tributary crossing on Smarts Brook was an easy rock hop. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Minimal |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found a pair of Walmartesque sunglasses between Middle Acteon and Sachem. |
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 | Comments: |
Trails were mostly dry and in good shape. Network of trails off the highway were quickly nice...good footing, some neat natural features (such as a nice gorge along the Pine Flats Trail). Took the wrong trailhead off 49 (Waterville map suggests the trail runs parallel to the highway, but it's actually on the shoulder of the highway...we took the signed south trailhead, but come to find out there was also an unsigned north trailhead, which is the one we wanted), so took the Pine Flats Trail to correct our way to the Yellow Jacket Trail (fortunately didn't live up to its name) and to Smarts Brook Trail. The Smarts Brook Trail was the only place where we encountered any mud (from the old USFS logging operations).
We left the Smarts Brook Trail shortly after crossing a tributary, adjacent to some massive boulders. We found a herd path of sorts (occasional flagging) that wove its way around some very impressive boulders. We eventually arrived at the base of the cliffs via genearlly decent woods...I suspect there could be a way to free climb up, but we opted to cut around the east side through some scrubby stuff.
The AMC and 7.5 minute USGS maps suggest point 2,784 is the summit of Sachem Peak. This is not true. The highpoint is on the northeastern portion of that countor (as indicated in the old 1930s USGS maps). If the 2,784 is accurate, then the highpoint is likely in excess of 2,800 feet. Regardless, the highpoint provides 360 degree views and has to be one of the nicest trailless summits in the WMNF.
From there, we descended to the middle peak of Acteon Ridge (2,489'), though generally decent woods. We found multiple nice cliff view ledges just southeast of the recognized summit.
From there, we headed over to Bald Knob in one again descent woods, with some of the ascent on ledges. Lots of ledges to explore around the summit area. For the descent, we initially connected ledges to the southwest, but then cliffed out and favored west. We hit another cliffband that lasted for a good tenth of a mile, but found an exit on the north side of it, then hit another cliff band around 1,600 feet or so. Interestingly, we descended into a 30 foot long cave to get through this cliff band - pretty neat. Below there, the terrain grew a bit more gradual and the woods were pretty decent (though this may not last, as it looks like there are logging markings). We crossed a few herd paths running along contours, but eventually followed a dry brook down to the Yellow Jacket Trail, not too far from its junction with the Pine Flats Trail. From there, we took the Old Waterville Road Trail out to Route 49. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-09-27 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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