| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Blueberry Mountain, Speckled Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Bickford Brook Trail, Blueberry Ridge Trail, Outlook Loop, Route 113 |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, May 19, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Route 113 is still gated at the ME-NH border so one can't drive to Brickett Place parking. Perhaps the road has not been cleared of trees/branches or sustained water damage. ME DOT was repairing route 113 in Fryeburg today. I parked near the entrance for the Basin Pond camping area.
The fee box at Brickett Place was wrapped. It is a fee lot in season. There are toilet facilities (signed side path). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Bickford Brook crossing on the Blueberry Ridge trail is easy as the water level is not high. The easiest crossing is slightly upstream of the path crossing. All other minor run-off brooks are even easier. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There were two tree falls obstructing the Bickford Brook Trail on the old road section before the Wilderness Area. I cleared out one of these obstructions. I cleared out many branches and small trees on the other multiple tree fall spot so the remaining trees are relatively easy to straddle or step over. Most of the Wilderness area was free of obstructions although there were some leaners extending high above the pathway. There is an evergreen tree (8" - 12" dia) across the Bickford Brook trail just below the junction with the Spruce Hill Trail. There is a large (3 ft dia) evergreen across the trail just uphill on the Bickford Brook trail from the lower junction with the Blueberry Ridge trail. A bit further uphill is a 1.5' diameter birch across the trail. One can get by these tree falls rather easily.
The trail sign at the upper junction of the Bickford Brook trail and the Blueberry Ridge trail mistakenly lists route 133 rather than route 113. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs |
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 | Bugs: |
The black flies were swarming down low. They surrounded me from route 113 up to Blueberry Mountain ledges. Thankfully the breeze kicked in so the flies disappeared on the open ridge up to the summit. On descent the black flies reappeared near the junction of Bickford Slide trail and Bickford Brook trail. Not as bad as in the AM as there was some breeze. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The ledges were dry. Most of the mud was dry. There was one 6-8' patch of snow about 1 to 1.5 ft thick on the Bickford Brook trail below the upper junction with the Blueberry Ridge trail.
The Rhodora was in bloom on the ledges on the Outlook Loop. Saw Hobblebush, Painted Trillium, Red Trillium, Rose Twisted Stalk, Shadbush, Violets, and Sessile-leafed Bellwort in bloom.
Nice views from both mountains and the open ridge.
Looked like there was a fire in the direction of Gilead ME or Shelburne NH.
Saw around four groups of hikers today. Most came up from Stone House Road although a couple from Quebec were hiking multiple days in the Evans Notch region. |
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 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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 | E-Mail: |
waumbek@roadrunner.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-05-19 |
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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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