| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Halfway Yurt Vista, ME |
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 | Trails: |
East Flagstaff Road, Long Falls Dam Road, Maine Hut Trail, Vista Spur, Maine Hut Trail Summer Bypass, Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, May 24, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of parking at the East Flagstaff Road trailhead |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All unbridged crossings were easily hoppable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
AT is in good shape. Maine Hut Trail is in very poor condition. See notes below. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sampson enjoy himself |
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 | Bugs: |
Blackflies & ticks |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Today we went for a loop hike on the Maine Hut Trail and Appalachian Trail to the east of Flagstaff Lake. After parking at the AT parking lot on East Flagstaff Road, we walked down the road a bit to the Maine Hut Trail crossing. Our plan was to head north on the Maine Hut Trail at this point, but what used to be a year-round section of the trail has now been relegated to winter use only, due to lack of maintenance on the bridges and bog bridging. We only walked about 100 yards before we reached a seemingly impassable mudhole.
Instead, we returned to East Flagstaff Road, which we followed to Long Falls Dam Road. We then walked down Long Falls Dam Road to the Maine Hut Trail crossing. From here, we followed the Maine Hut Trail north towards Halfway Yurt. As with most of the Maine Huts trail system in its current state, this section of trail has minimal signage, a lack of trail markers, a severe lack of maintenance, and very little summer use. However, with a reliable map and decent navigational skills, I actually found this section of the Maine Hut Trail rather enjoyable.
The trail follows old roads of varying ages through this section. Some sections still appear drivable, while others are a narrow grassy track through the woods. Halfway Yurt looked to be in pretty rough shape from the outside, but it appears to still be weathertight, and it was quite cozy inside. It would be a welcome refuge on a cold day. I also hiked up the vista spur near the yurt, which leads to a beautiful viewpoint back towards the High Peaks. I wasn't sure what to expect from this viewpoint, but the view surpassed my expectations. I then descended back to Long Falls Dam Road, using the summer route of the Maine Hut Trail, which can be differentiated from the winter route because it uses blue markers instead of the white markers of the winter route. As it doesn't see much use or maintenance and has minimal markings, this section of trail was very remote feeling, which I enjoyed. I should note that although this route is promoted as a mountain biking route, I would recommend against it, due to the numerous washouts, blowdowns, and other obstacles in the trail.
Back at Long Falls Dam Road, I headed south to the Appalachian Trail crossing. I headed south on the AT, over an unnamed ridge to Flagstaff Lake. This section of trail along the lake was very enjoyable, with lots of interesting views across the lake. There is also a campsite in the section with 2 tenting areas. After crossing Bog Brook and one of its tributaries on 2 rather substantial for the AT bridges, the trail reached Bog Brook Road. Then it was only an easy 0.1 mile up and over an esker back to the parking area on East Flagstaff Road.
Despite the poor trail conditions in some sections, I found this hike very enjoyable. I liked hiking trails not often traveled by day hikers, and we had the trails to ourselves the entire time. |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-24 |
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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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