| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Old Speck Mountain, Sunday River Whitecap, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Old Speck Trail, Grafton Loop Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, August 4, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking at Old Speck trail and Grafton Loop East was plentiful. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Grafton Loop West ( and some campsites I'll describe below) definitely needs a little love- lots of blow downs with well established trails around them in addition to lots of step overs and duck unders. The section from a little off Old Speck summit down to Slide Mtn campsite has lots of overgrown areas where you are head high in brush just fighting to see your feet so you don't trip over something. There are a few other areas along the trail like this but that's the most notable one. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None |
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 | Bugs: |
On and off but not bad |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We did a two day backpack starting at Old Speck trail and spent the night at Sargent Brook. We checked out all campsites along the way. Bull Run has a large stream with ample water. The privy door has come off and it is in rough shape. Slide Mountain campsite had a trickle of water which the trail crosses. It was enough to filter slowly. Sargent Brook had zero water- not one drop, although the book mentions the water source as reliable. I am guessing that the dry seasons lately have made it unreliable. Thankfully we were warned by others who had come by it so we got enough at Slide Mountain stream to cover us for 2 days of hiking and cooking=heavy packs. Sargent brook also has a broken outhouse door so no privacy there. Campsite 1 has a dead tree branch hanging over it. Sunday River Whitecap was the highlight of the trip- what a gorgeous summit. I could have stayed up there for hours. The stairs coming down off of Stowe were wonderfully made and so helpful. Bald Mountain campsite had only stagnant water but the tent pads were nice and privy was well taken care of. |
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 | Name: |
Alison R |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-08-04 |
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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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