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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Old Speck Mountain, ME
Trails
Trails: Old Speck Trail, Eyebrow Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, May 22, 2023
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking at the Grafton Notch State Park. Two outhouses. Fee on honor system. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Crossings were easy 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trail in good condition. Isawed off the limbs of downed evergreen that were hiding the trail. Cut some other small downed trees. One two log bridge over a wet sloped ledge has one log broken. As I recall,this was the condition of the bridge last year. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Fine for dogs. Saw none today. 
Bugs
Bugs: Pleasantly surprised. Almost no bugs even though there was only a gentle breeze. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I decided to ascend via the Eyebrow Trail with its steep slope and tricky ledges that have a cable and metal rungs to get by difficult areas. These assists are especially useful when the surfaces are wet or icy. Today, most of the surfaces on the Eyebrow Trail were dry. Good views on ledges above the Eyebrow. The signs at the upper junction of the Eyebrow and Old Speck trails faces away from hikers ascending the Eyebrow Trail. Make sure to turn right at this junction to head for the summit.
There are still pockets of snow up high with a deteriorating monorail in places. In places, the snow was so soft that the microspikes provided almost no traction. In one spot the snow caved in as I descended. In other spots the snow was hard so the microspikes were effective. Snowshoes would be useless.
The best views at the summit are from the tower. A vertical climb up a metal ladder is required to reach the small observation platform. The views extend to Mt Washington in the south to Sugarloaf to the north. The best views are down in to Mahoosuc Notch and over to the bare ledges of East Baldpate. Please make sure to latch the door of the observation deck upon leaving.
Many hikers out today including a hiker from Sturbridge who hiked down to Speck Pond, a Lake George NY guy who is working on gridding all the northeast peaks, a Quebec couple enjoying the holiday, a Chinese couple hiking the Eyebrow Loop, and a Belfast ME man on a late hike to the summit.
Saw Red Trillium, Painted Trillium, Hobblebush, and Rose Twisted Stalk in bllom.
The cascade alongside the Old Speck Trail had a decent volume of water making for a nice scene. In the dry summers the flow flow falls to a trickle.  
Name
Name: WAUMBEK 
E-Mail
E-Mail: waumbek@roadrunner.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2023-05-22 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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