| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Haystack Notch Trail, Miles Notch Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 14, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The dirt road is being rebuilt - new dirt, new culverts, machinery parked on the side right now. In dry weather, any vehicle should be able to make it to the trailhead (watch out for the occasional rock sticking up). I would not recommend going up the road in wet conditions in the near future without 4WD, as the dirt being used looks like it'll turn into a mudbog. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
On Miles Notch Trail, the first few are a stretch but doable. On Haystack Notch Trail, the three river crossings were tricky and required getting feet wet. On the way back down, I left the trail (right, descending) at the USFS boundary, crossed (rock hop), then headed downstream for a few minutes in open woods back to the trail. I also bushwhacked between the middle and bottom crossing on the descent, though the terrain was a little bit more sidehilly and wet. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Took out some blowdowns. Both trails are a little hard to follow in the lower elevations due to lack of blazes in the young sapling stands. A few blowdowns on Haystack Notch Trail (hand sawable). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I suspect this area is pretty popular with hunters, so blaze orange is probably a good idea. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few flying around Haystack Notch Trail, but none biting. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Headed up Miles Notch Trail up to Red Rock Trail junction, the doubled back and took the Haystack Notch Trail to the wilderness boundary.
Miles Notch Trail was generally moist but not overly muddy up to the wilderness boundary. A bit overgrown on the logging road portion (one confusing junction early on, both options looking like herdpaths, bear left and head downhill toward the sound of the brook), with some prickers for good measure. Good jogging to the wilderness boundary.
Above the wilderness boundary, there were some areas of leaf covered mud.
Haystack Notch Trail doesn't look like it gets much use, at least on this side. From the USFS boundary to the wilderness boundary has been brushed decently, making for a decent corridor to follow (helpful since there's no footbed).
Still some decent foliage in this immediate area. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-10-14 |
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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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