| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Surplus Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Woods road, logging roads, herd paths, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We took Bear River Rd (rt 26) through Grafton Notch. We parked at the junction of Bear River Rd and Whitecap Brook Rd just prior to Grafton Cemetery. Whitecap Brook Rd is gated. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
easy enough hop over |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Kody had lots of fun! |
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 | Bugs: |
Yup .... lots on the way down |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This peak is on the Maine 200 Highest list. Just prior to parking we saw a nice moose driving through the notch.
From our parking location we followed Whitecap Brook Rd heading east for just under a ½ mile. We stayed left / northeast onto Dear Hill Rd past a beaver pond for a ¼ mile or so. This woods road was washed out. At this point we jumped onto an old logging road heading southeast. It was a little overgrown at first, but it opened. Lots of bear, moose, dear scat and drainage ditches cutting trough. We followed this woods road for a bit over a mile with some ups and downs, crosses a stream and came to a T junction.
We crossed this junction and started bushwhacking still heading southeast but shotting for the southwest running ridge of Surplus summit. From here we had just over a mile to go as we hit lots of old logging cuts, skidder road, herd paths, thick stuff, muddy stuff and about 2500 feet of elevation we hit better wood, snuck up on a dear and finial hit the recognized high point and register. This mile plus section took us over two hours.
After singing in we headed pretty much followed out footsteps back but picked much a better route. On the way down our dog Kody jumped a couple grouse for excitement. Lots of horsefly on the down and we also picked up 4 ticks. Total trip was just over 7 miles and 2o00 feet of elevation gain +/-. |
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 | Name: |
Brian Bond |
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 | E-Mail: |
brianbond@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-06-11 |
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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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