| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Tumbledown Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Parker's Ridge Trail, Tumbledown Ridge Trail, Pond Link Trail, Little Jackson Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 23, 2011 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Road access to parking lot is down one lane dirt road - first right turn after the small cemetery on Byron road about 2.5-3 miles in. Small lot right at trailhead - room for about 4 cars (head up the steep pitch) which was full today, small lot just below the trailhead - room for about 4 cars with room for a couple along the road - lucked into the last spot in lower lot with 2 cars also along the road, if both full there is a pullout that has room for 4-5 cars about 1/4 mile down from the trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One crossing on Parker's Ridge - easy on rocks though a couple of the rocks were just udner water; one crossing on Pond Link - easily done on rocks |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Pond Link - a number of blowdowns, 2 large stepovers before height of land, after height of land - 2 large and a number of smaller stepovers, one small duckunder - trimmed some branches to make it easier to get over a couple |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Lots of canines on the trails today. Any of these trails would be easy - smaller dogs might need a boost up some of the ledges on Parker's Ridge and Tumbledown Ridge. Lots of water along all trails. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Unfortunately the forcasted sun didn't come out today but still a great hike - dozens of people out today - these trails make a great little loop for Tumbledown.
I was a bit disappointed with the amount of trash in the areas close to Tumbledown Pond - food wrappers, empty bottles, towels among others - I picked up quite a bit but by no means all.
Parker's Ridge trail - they have done a lot of work on improving this trail since I was last up - there is a relocation down low off the logging road to get around a stretch with erosion - heading up the ridge, there are a number of reroutes that now avoid some of the wetter and slicker ledges - amazing amount of work putting in new rock steps! Kudos to the workers - The trail is much more pleasant now heading up the ledges. A spot or two of mud that can be avoided but otherwise dry - ledges were all dry today.
Tumbledown Ridge - Ledges all dry, one spot with mud that can be avoided. Pond Link - this is a trail that doesn't see a lot of traffic though footing and descent both easy but in spots the trail is narrow. At the junction where it leaves Parker's Ridge - make sure and take the upper path - the lower which is at this point actually more obvious is the herd path that takes you around the pond - there is a blue blaze just up the trail a bit to let you know you are on the right trail. A number of blowdowns along the trail. There are many places with running water and mud - some of which can be avoided, some that you just have to walk through.
Little Jackson - running water and mud in the usual places that can be avoided. |
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 | Name: |
Brian from Maine |
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 | E-Mail: |
brobert1@maine.rr.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2011-10-23 |
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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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