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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Baldpate Mountain - East Peak, Long Mountain, Puzzle Mountain, Sunday River Whitecap, Old Speck Mountain, ME
Trails
Trails: Grafton Notch Loop, Old Speck Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 5, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: No problems at the Old Speck lot at 8:30am on Saturday, and it was almost empty at 6pm on Monday. I bet it was packed in between, though. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None, probably because there's no water 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: I saw a couple guys working on the mud pit between the Baldpates, which seems a little hopeless but maybe they'll think of something. There's various blowdowns, of course, the most annoying of which was just south of the Sargent Brook campsite. From Bull Run to the summit of Old Speck, the trail is very grown in and narrow, though the foot bed is easy to follow. In all, the loop is very well blazed and marked. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: I saw one or two mosquitos, plus some annoying flies on the road walk section. It wasn't enough to care about. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Wow, water is a major problem right now. Going clockwise from Old Speck, your only real water options are at the road, at Baldpate Shelter, East Baldpate tent site, the whole stretch east of Lane tent site, the Long/Puzzle col, the river crossing at the south end, a couple tenths going up towards Bald Mountain tent site (and this rapidly runs out, so don't wait too long), just west of Stowe Mountain (and this one is mossy and slow moving), and right on the trail at Slide Mountain tent site. This sounds like a lot written out, but it amounts to several 6+ mile water carries.

I did not check out Bull Run. Stewart and Sargent Brook are dry. Town Corner and Bald Mountain are very nearly dry. Be prepared to tank up and carry it long distances.

The Old Speck Trail is the worst part of this whole hike. Compared to Grafton Notch Loop, it's just an eroded trench of bare rocks and roots. It's a completely irredeemable, miserable hiking experience. The rest of the loop sees far less traffic and has a much softer foot bed. There are steep and rocky sections of course, but it's not close to the same.  
Name
Name: Chris Lumens 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-09-08 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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