| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Old Speck Mountain, Sunday River Whitecap, Stowe Mountain, Bald Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Old Speck Trail, Grafton Loop Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 2, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing significant. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails in great shape. We noted in both Slide and Sargent Brook campsites that there are dead trees with large branches overhanging some of the tent pads. This is a dangerous situation. Please remember to look up before you pitch a tent or hang a hammock. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Yes, but not as bad as one might expect in early June. It helped that we treat our clothes with Permethrin, and I wear an Insect-shield Buff or a treated hat on my head, but we didn't need any Deet on Saturday. Sunday was a bit worse so we used Deet on bare skin and that worked well. Wrap-style sun(bug)glasses are great to keep the eye-diving flies at bay. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost a Sea to Summit bug net and blue visor attached to a Nite Ize black carabiner somewhere between Miles Notch and southern intersection with Rt. 26. |
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 | Comments: |
Accidentally posted on the NH page. Reposting here.
We were inspired to do this trail by the trip report from GN last week. Having read the reports from 2023, many of which noted severe overgrowth, we were surprised when GN reported that it was not too bad. With the great forecast for the weekend, we decided it would be a good time to try this trail before the summer growth spurt filled it back in. We spotted a car at the southern parking area. The climb up Old Speck to the Mahoosuc Trail was in good shape, although it being our first backpack of the year the load felt a bit heavy. At the junction, we hung our packs on some trees in the woods and headed down to Speck Pond to check that out and finish that section of the Mahoosuc Trail. Other than some really deep mud and some sunken bog bridges, that section of trail is in good shape. 80 mile visibility made the views from the tower on Old Speck spectacular, but the tower swaying in the wind was unnerving so we didn't linger even though we were the only people there. Heading down Grafton Loop from Old Speck, we expected to encounter some sections of overgrown trail, but it never happened. We noticed evidence of very recent brushing, possibly even earlier that day. We noted a single set of large, fresh boot tracks and assume those were the trail maintainer's tracks. Based on what we saw, they wielded a sharp machete or two and a small saw to brush and clear the trail all the way to Miles notch. Fantastic job, and thank you very much! We camped by ourselves at the Slide campsite. Inside the bear box was a new tarp, a half-full propane canister (not for small stoves), some empty beer cans and a freeze dried meal which we left there. We noted the springs on the slide bolt spring snap hooks were broken and so we secured the hasp latches with a tie wrap. A carabiner should also work, but we wanted breakfast so we used the tie wrap. Good water was available there and at the other three campsites. In the morning we continued enjoying the freshly-brushed trail over to Miles notch. To be sure, there are still many blowdowns on this trail, but mostly step-overs and none that are a problem. As noted by GN, a cairn marks the unnamed trail leading to Rt. 26 in Miles notch. About half-way up Sunday River Whitecap, we me the only other hiker we would see all weekend, a gentleman returning to the unnamed trail after summiting SRW. We had a leisurely lunch atop SRW, cooling off from the climb up in the refreshing breeze and taking in the incredible views. Heading down towards the Sargent River campsite, the drone of a large wood chipper echoed up from the Ketchum area, reminding us that we were headed back towards civilization and the hard-working people of Maine. We watered up at the campsite and headed over the Stowe mountain summits, where we encountered the first short section of overgrown trail. Prior to that, there had not been one bit of trail I would call overgrown. I would say that from Stowe mountain to to Rt 26, the trail does become a bit more rugged with a few very short muddy or overgrown sections, but nothing too troubling. The trail down the eastern side of Stowe is remarkably steep, dropping 400 feet in .2 miles. There are five or six sets of stairs built from logs and PT 2x10's that help, but I couldn't help thinking about those eventually falling into disrepair (like many of the rotted bog bridges in the Whites with spikes sticking out) and how dangerous they would become when the notches in the logs rot and the stair tread falls through under the load of a hiker. If not maintained, these could be a severe injury waiting to happen. As GN had noted, beginning near the Bald mountain campsite the woods thin and there is no longer any trail canopy. Combine that with the trail being covered in leaves and lightly used, and route-finding, for the first time, requires a little concentration. While sparse, blazes were there when we needed them most and we were able to stay on trail, but I would not want to run late and have to navigate the section from Bald mountain to near Rt. 26 by headlamp. If in doubt, follow the brook as the trail crisscrosses it and stays close to the banks all the way down. Near the end, a cable suspension bridge for snowmobiles crosses the Bear River. We climbed down the bank and I had what amounted to a lovely ice bath. After the initial shock wore off, I laid neck deep for about five minutes and let any bodily soreness wash down stream. It's unbelievable how restorative a cold soak can be. Pumba couldn't get deeper than just over her knees - unlike me, she doesn't have enough whale blubber for those water temps! Late on Sunday afternoon, there were only a few vehicles on the .6 mile road walk back to the car spot.
There is a lot to like about this trail. I loved the isolation and remoteness - from that perspective it's the opposite of the Franconia Ridge experience. While there are some rough and rocky sections, a lot of the trail is soft forest duff on dirt. I would imagine this is what many trails in the Whites were like long ago before erosion from overuse took its toll. My feet loved it. There are some amazing views in a few spots along the way, rivaling any in the Whites in my humble opinion. Plenty of campsites with bear boxes and privy's provide a lot of options for planning your trip. We preferred getting the major elevation gain finished right away while we were fresh, and then having mostly downhill stretches thereafter but to each their own. There are lots of fern glades and hobblebush on the sides of the trail that will fill in over the summer, so if you've been thinking about trying this trail, with the recent brushing now would be a great time. |
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 | Name: |
Notch and Pumba |
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 | E-Mail: |
bowmore17@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-06-03 |
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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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