Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Vienna Mountain, ME |
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| Trails: |
Vienna Mountain Road, unnamed trails |
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| Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Room for a few cars near the snow plow turn-around |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Does the whole trail count? Just about every step was wet to some degree, but there were no significant crossings. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Closed road and trails around the barrens are clear and easy to follow |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
Not yet |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Well, now that ski season is wrapping up, it's time for me to start hiking again! I decided to kick it off with a new mountain that is less than half an hour away from me. It may not be as well known as most of the other mountains in the Kennebec Highlands, but Vienna Mountain is the tallest and has the best views.
I parked on the Vienna Mountain Road at the snowplow turn-around (the road is currently closed beyond this point). From here, it was about a mile along the dirt road to the summit blueberry barrens. This section still had significant sections of snow (although I didn't need snowshoes or mircospikes) and where there wasn't snow, there was mud that was ever-present throughout the hike.
At the summit barrens, I made a clockwise loop around the entire summit area. Walking through the barrens is truly spectacular, and the mountain's relative isolation, combined with the bare summit, makes for views that are better than mountains twice the height. I was able to see from Mount Washington and the Presidentials, to Mount Katahdin way off in the distance.
I'm surprised it's taken me this long to visit such a great spot so near to where I live, and I'll definitely be back! |
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| Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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| E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-03-30 |
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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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