| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Katahdin - Baxter Peak, Mt. Katahdin - Hamlin Peak, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Chimney Pond Trail, Hamlin Ridge Trail, Northwest Basin Trail, Saddle Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None (All Water Crossings Have Bridges) |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
None |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Hiked in to Roaring Brook on Monday 1/23. Hiked up to Chimney Pond on 1/24. Excellent weather window on Wednesday 1/25 to make the summits, then descended back down to Roaring Brook for the snowstorm. Spent the day on Thursday 1/25 waiting out the storm and then getting a head start breaking trail. Hiked out Friday 1/26. Awesome excursion.
On Wednesday-Thursday we received 8" to 10" of snow. I suspect higher accumulations at Chimney Pond. Tough to speculate about the snow accumulation above tree line. Our conditions the day prior were excellent. Some exposed rock along Hamlin Ridge. Between Hamlin Peak and Baxter Peak the snow/ice pack was mostly solid and supportive, like Styrofoam.
We did not attempt the Saddle Trail, although a group did summit Baxter Peak via the Saddle Trail the day before. The lower steep segment of the Hamlin Ridge Trail as you get out of the trees was difficult, with fresh deep snow. Although there was a group 2 days prior that summitted Hamlin Peak and reported that the trail was packed out, this short segment was windblown and drifted. Snowshoes all the way from Chimney Pond to Baxter Peak. Used full crampons descending Hamlin Ridge Trail.
Much thanks to Ranger Greg and Ranger Jen for the weather intel. |
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 | Name: |
Del |
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 | E-Mail: |
dlefevre@tarbellpa.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-01-28 |
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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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