Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Sentinel Mountain, ME |
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| Trails: |
Sentinel Link, Sentinel Mountain Trail, Sentinel Mountain Loop Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Saturday, September 22, 2018 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for about 10 or so cars at the Kidney Pond day use area in Baxter State Park. $15 day use fee charged at the gatehouses (Togue Pond and Matagamon) for non-Maine residents. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Only major crossing was rock hoppable. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No notable issues |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs or pets allowed in Baxter State Park. |
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| Bugs: |
None due to the chilly temperature (temps were in the 40s at the trailhead and for most of the hike). |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
The Sentinel Link was rocky in the beginning, but the second half of that trail was less rocky. Excellent views over Kidney Pond toward Katahdin and the higher peaks of Baxter State Park from various points along the trail. The Sentinel Mountain Trail (at least from the Sentinel Link junction to the top) was well blazed and easy to follow, with easy grades until about a half-mile before the summit area. The summit loop trail was a little grown-in in spots, but easy to follow as well. Stupidly good views of the Hundred Mile Wilderness, Doubletop Mountain, Mt. OJI, and Katahdin areas of BSP were had from the many open ledge outlooks along the loop trail. The hike down was straightforward, although there was some reverse elevation gain which could be an annoyance to some.
There was a high wind advisory for Baxter State Park today, so I didn't want to chance it on a peak like Doubletop Mountain (the original plan). An employee at the Togue Pond visitor center suggested Sentinel Mountain, and, having read an old trip report about it a while back, I decided to give it a shot. Glad I did- despite being only about 1,870 feet in elevation, the terrain made it feel like I was at least 1,500 feet higher, and the views from the summit area were, in my opinion, better than those from most of the NH 4,000 footers. |
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| Name: |
Spencer |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-09-22 |
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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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