| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cadillac Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Cadillac North Ridge Trail, Cadillac South Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 23, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking along Route 3 at south trail head room for plenty of cars. Had to take a cab to get to the north trailhead - gate at the park entrance off 233 is closed but there is room for a few cars at the turnout. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lower section of Cadillac South Ridge has a fair amount of debris, looks like the blizzard several weeks back did a lot of damage with what looks like hundreds of trees blown down. However, those on the trail had been cleared. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
North ridge trail might be tough for the canines given the ice so probably best avoided, south ridge should be fine - saw at least one set of tracks. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Decided to make a winter traverse of Cadillac and introduce a friend to Acadia. Without the summer shuttle service this requires a car spot or you can take a cab between the trailheads which was our plan for the day. Note there is no access to park loop road and the north trailhead. Access from the Route 233 entrance to the park loop road - At the park entrance off Rte 233 head up the park loop across the bridge and down perhaps a hundred yards. There is a trail sign for the Kebo Brook trail on the left - follow .1 mile to the north trailhead.
Trail conditions were varied. But traction is a must for this traverse. North ridge - lots of ice along the entire length including several large flows that would be impossible without traction. Mix of some packed powder, frozen/granular snow and bare rock to go with the ice. Occasional drifts but were solid and easily crossed. Wore Hillsounds from trailhead to summit.
South Ridge had much more bare rock along the ridge. Some ice up top - wore hillsounds to just after the junction with West face trail. Mostly bare rock with a few patches of ice that can be avoided between the junction to the featherbed. The steeper slope heading down to the featherbed does have ice that traction would certainly make easier but one can negotiate around. After the featherbed to junction with Eagles crag back to mix of a little packed powder, lots of frozen granular and some pretty tall drifts most of which held weight though I did leave a few post holes. Still a lots of ice so traction would make this section easier than bare boots. Below eagles crag to the trail head mix of frozen granular snow and snow compressed into ice. Traction makes this section easier or you'll need to walk along the edges of the trail - lots of tree damage in this stretch.
Cloudy cold and windy up top but a great winter traverse. Really love being on top of Cadillac without the crowds - my friend and I had the entire summit to ourselves. Only saw one other party out today heading up the south ridge trail. |
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 | Name: |
Brian from Maine |
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 | E-Mail: |
brobert1@maine.rr.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-02-23 |
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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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