| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Albany Mountain, Round Pond, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Albany Notch Trail, Albany Mountain Trail, roadwalk, Albany Brook Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, September 24, 2011 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
people with low-clearance vehicles like mine should be wary of rocks attempting to puncture the oil pan. I was lucky!!!! we just parked as far as we could along the side of the access road. There really wasn't any trailhead parking from the end near Keywaydin Lake. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Albany Notch trail had several HUGE beaver dams. The one at the north end, near the campground, required balancing on slippery logs in knee-deep water. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
note on tree about beaver dams was only on the SOUTH end of the Albany Notch Trail and not visible from the trail junction sign for the spur to the summit link. We missed the message until our return (NOT marked from the north end at all) from the Forest Service that we should "plan accordingly." more details in the comments section about the unplanned bushwhack as a result... |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
you would have to clean a LOT of mud off your four-legged friends if you did this loop. But, gentle grade is ideal!!! |
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 | Bugs: |
Not sure why I brought a large-size deet, but, I am glad I did. We got eaten alive near Round Pond. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Great day for this hike with Forestgnome. Weren't planning a bushwhack b/c of the wet woods but, it turned into one anyway. Anyway, nice trails up to Albany Mtn. We wandered the summit area for about an hour following the sporadic cairn trail that didn't actually touch the summit. We found some AWESOME views after a LONG time looking, but, the timing worked out because the clouds cleared out just as we were setting up lunch. There was an awesome panorama with some nice color showing thru.
Later, on our way to Round Pond (the road walk to the trail wasn't too bad), we startled a porcupine in a clearing... very cute! On our way back, we bypassed the summit trail and took the Albany Notch Trail back around the mountain and after a while lost it. We crossed a TREMENDOUS beaver dam and cut left up the hill to hopefully find the trail. Instead, we ended up on a VERY thick bushwhack which was NOT the intent. I started to wonder how long my headlamp's extra set of batteries would last as well as how it would be to once again bushwhack in the dark :( But, we eventually found ourselves crossing skidder road after skidder road, "this is the trail!" "no, that wasn't it... THIS must be the trail.... NOPE" until, finally, we found the treadway at the right spot. Any distance in either direction and the trail would NOT have been obvious.... we got out before dark anyway. An awesome day. |
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 | Name: |
Becca Munroe |
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 | E-Mail: |
beccahiker@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2011-09-24 |
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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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