| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Blue Ridge (Bowdoin College Grant West), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Rum Pond Road, Rum Loop Trail, Blue Ridge Trail, bushwhack, Hedgehog Gate Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, September 23, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I stashed a bike at the base of Hedgehog Gate Trail, then drove to Rum Pond Road, for a traverse & bike back. I could only get partway down Rum Pond Road with my Honda Fit, and had to walk 0.3 in to the Rum Loop trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Oh boy, where to start. Parts of this trail are in good shape, other parts under construction, and yet other parts are completely gone and overtaken by brush blowdowns. Contrary to Maine Trail Finder, one cannot walk all the way to the AMC trails. See notes in the comments section for details. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The Rum Loop section of the trail system is in good shape, with occasional blazing but no trail signs. I followed it clockwise to Blue Ridge Trail. Blue Ridge Trail (which is apparently, understated, still under construction) is another matter: (1) blazing is very schizophrenic--many blazes in some area, spare to none in other areas. No clear pattern for this. (2) The trail is almost completely overgrown in two areas below the conifer line on either side of the ridge high point, with lots of downed woody material and dense beech shoots, making it very difficult to parse. Ditto for the logging road crossings, some of which are totally overgrown. (3) East of the last logging road crossing (this is the road that descends to a point near the trailhead to Hedgehog Gate Trail & Trout Brook Trail) the trail is clear a short way to a good view to the NE. After that, good luck. I was able to parse the trail via "bushwhack by blazes and intuition" (lots of downed limbs and a few big gnarly blowdowns) to a point below where the trail leaves the ridgeline ledges, but then all blazes and signs of the trail abruptly vanished. From there, I bushwhacked down to an apex of Hedgehog Gate Trail, and followed it back to my bike. (4) Totally understandable that the trail is a work in progress, but it's a bit of a peeve that AMC, the State, and Maine Trailfinder can't all get on the same page with a consistent public narrative on the current state of this trail. Someone is going to try to follow this trail and become very lost. Trailfinder, in particular, erroneously states that this trail is already linked to the AMC trails to the east. |
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 | Name: |
Barefoot Paul |
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 | E-Mail: |
paulwgagnon@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-09-24 |
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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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