| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Varnum Pond Peak, Derby Mountain , ME |
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 | Trails: |
Varnum Pond Road, Dean Mountain Road, snowmobile trails, bushwhack, skidder roads, logging road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, April 15, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for multiple cars roadside at the end of the paved portion of Varnum Pond Road |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None of issue |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Ticks are out |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
First bushwhacking adventure of the year! I headed up to Temple with two objectives, a series of ledges on a small unnamed peak north of Varnum Pond, and the ledge on the north ridge of Derby Mountain. I parked at the end of the paved portion of Varnum Pond Road as the rest of it was blocked off for mud season.
I started down the dirt portion of the road, and turned right upon reaching Dean Mountain Road. I followed this road until it reached a split. Here I continued straight on an old disused track which ascended the notch between the unnamed peak and Derby Mountain. Shortly before reaching the height of land, I turned right and started a short, but steep bushwhack up the ledges of the unnamed peak.
The ledges were interesting and offered some limited views. Apparently it is at least occasionally visited by others, as I found a cairn constructed on one of the ledges. I then descended back to the old track, before heading up Derby Mountain on the other side of the notch. I followed a very old road/skidder road for some time before it petered out. However, the woods were very open, and the bushwhacking was easy up to the ridgeline. I followed the ridge for a short way before popping out on the top of the large open ledge facing northeast.
The ledge offered excellent views north and east including Mount Blue, Mount Abraham, the Temple area, Moxie Mountain, and the New Vineyard Mountains. After relaxing here for a while, I followed the ridgeline up to the true summit of Derby Mountain, where there were no views.
After descending a bit from the summit, I joined up with a snowmobile trail/skidder road which I used to descend. There were some good views over Varnum Pond along the way, and it eventually brought me to a logging road which branched off Dean Mountain Road. I took a few short detours on the walk back to visit a secluded graveyard in the woods and the shore of Varnum Pond.
It was a successful adventure, and it always seems like there are new places to discover in Temple! There was some mud and snow along the way, but not enough to cause any trouble or wet feet. |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-04-15 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaineHiking/permalink/2541431762665869/ |
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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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