| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Blueberry Mountain, Speckled Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Blueberry Ridge Trail, Bickford Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 6, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Zero snow in grounds or entrance roads at Cold River Campground. Plenty of parking. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Bickford Brook on the Blueberry Ridge Trail easily crossed on rocks <2" below surface. All "crossings" on Bickford Brook Trail had minimal water. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Blowovers: Two 8" dia spruce across BRT between col and BBT junction. 1) @ 1920' easily passed underneath, no crawling required. 2) @ 2500', mild PIA to step over through boughs and branches (sry - saw left in car). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One pup frolicking on the way to Speckled up the Brook Trail. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Superb pre-storm hike. 7 person AMC Boston Chapter hike completed loop ascending Blueberry Ridge. Dry trail with spotty ice from TH up to 1300', then Ridge trail was well covered in 1-3" microspike loving ice up to the snow dusted Blueberry summit slabs and scrub. Ridge trail across to Brook trail loose powder 2"-ish, with ice under in spots. Snow depth remained same to summit of Speckled with scattered 3" areas. Snow cleared to loose granular at about 1700'. Brook trail mostly dry or frozen leaves/rubble/dirt from 1400 the rest of way down to TH.
Loving the work of the CTA. I've never been here before and for a Wilderness trail, the great scree work and well defined clear water bars made the Blueberry Ridge Trail easy to navigate from the Brook Trail cutoff even with no blazes and no one having disturbed the leaves in a hot minute. Great cairn spacing on the Blueberry lookout loop - no bumbling about the snow covered rocks. Can't wait to come back. |
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 | Name: |
Eric Ashwell |
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 | E-Mail: |
ericashwell@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-06 |
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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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