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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Katahdin - Baxter Peak, Mt. Katahdin - Hamlin Peak, ME
Trails
Trails: Tote Road, Abol Trail, Saddle Trail, Baxter Peak Cutoff
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, January 31, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Abol Bridge was plowed nicely and wide open 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Maybe 4 easy to pass blowdowns 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: No snowdogs 
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: My friend lost her Hillsound up on the Baxter Cutoff. Seems it was found Monday.  
 
Comments
Comments: Long wonderful day. Bluebird conditions, minimal wind, moderate cold (teens or so). We walked to Abol from Kidney Pond, started climbing up the every nicely packed Abol trail. We ascended the slide. Me in crampons, my friend in Hillsounds. The slide had a mix of compacted snow and bare rock. The ice was minimal. I think spikes would have been enough, but I opted for crampons and left the spikes behind to save on weight. Well insulated leather palm gloves/mitts will be helpful, as the slide requires minor rock scrambling in a few places. Above treeline, part way up Baxter, the trail bollard sticks were visible (coated in rime pf course) As you get to the summit cone, it's hard to follow. we lost the path and made our way up what looked easiest. Summit pix, then down to the saddle and find our way over to Hamlin. Retrace for return and make a right about halfway up the Baxter cone to connect to the Baxter Peak Cutoff and return via Abol. We followed a boot broken path and missed most of the spruce traps and hidden pits.

I think snowshoes might have helped, but the conditions were very mixed with lots of slightly covered rocks to trash your equipment. We opted for boots. With the Monday night snow storm, this probably is now biased to go ahead with the snowshoes.  
Name
Name: Al-X 
E-Mail
E-Mail: powerpackager@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-02-04 
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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