| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Mountain, Rumford Whitecap, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Ski trails, herd path, access road, Black and White Trail, Orange Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 6, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Spotted a car at the East Andover Road lot and then parked at Black Mountain Ski Area (closed for the season). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Minor ones between the peaks and on the Orange Trail. No issues other than dealing with the snowbanks on the sides. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some minor blowdowns frozen into the snowpack on the Black and White Trail...a handsaw will be adequate to get them later in the spring. A little bit brushy near the col coming off Black. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Bowtie the blind lab has been found safe and sound after a week in the Rumford woods and is now back home. |
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 | Comments: |
Ski trails up Black Mountain of Maine were still well endowed with snow (area could easily still be open if not for the lack of skiers this time of year). We opted to snowshoe, but one could boot the packed trails as well.
If standing at the top ramp of the triple chairlift with one's back to the ski area, head toward the light pole at about 1:00 (you'll see some towers in the distance). You'll initially start on a quasi-logging road. A few dozen feet up it, bear left onto a herd path (some blue flagging tape) and head toward the towers. This will lead to the closest tower. One can follow the access road from it initially uphill, then downhill (a bigger tower is seen in the medium distance) to another road (take a left onto it). At the end of this road, just beyond the big tower, is an excellent viewpoint ranging from the Presidentials to some of the Rangeley area peaks.
Back at the first tower, the new Black and White Trail starts just above it (fresh white blazes). The trail meanders down to the col and the helicopter rendezvous landing site. From there, it really meanders, eventually swinging south of Whitecap and joining the Orange Trail near the first ledges that trail reaches. The distance between the lower Black Mountain tower and the Orange Trail was probably about 5 miles (direct bushwhack peak to peak would have probably been closer to 1 mile).
There was no sign of recent traffic on the Black and White Trail. Snowpack was 1-3 feet deep, so snowshoes were ideal.
Orange Trail was getting a little sloppy, as it was a mix of spring snow, some ice/frozen granular, bare ledge, and running water. May be easiest to do this trail in light traction at the moment. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-04-06 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/Maine/blackmtn-2013-0406.php |
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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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