| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bald Mountain (Oquossoc), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Rangeley Avenue, Old Skiway Road, unnamed trails |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, July 26, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We parked in Oquossoc Center, by the Public Restrooms and Portage House restaurant. There are a couple other parking options - see Comments section below. |
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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: |
N/A |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great dog hike |
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 | Bugs: |
Bugs were very minimal, although strong winds may have helped. There were a few minor black flies and a deer fly in some non-windy spots. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This was our first time up Bald Mountain on a route much less traveled. It was definitely our favorite way. We did not see a soul on this route until the summit area. Views were spectacular from the summit tower and open ledges.
As previously mentioned, we parked in Oquossoc Center. We then headed west on Rangeley Ave. until it ended at Old Skiway Road. Took left on Old Skiway and went uphill. Proceeded past the gate for a shooting range. Took left up a rough road with Verizon/American Towers signage and a gate. Proceeded past gate and headed uphill, encountering a few steep sections with loose shale rock. Poles were helpful on the descent. Took road up to just before a cell tower. Took a right on a well-traveled path just before the tower. IMPORTANT: be sure to take that path, rather than follow Gaia's "Bald Mountain Summit Trail", which takes you through a bog, which is very, very wet. There is a big concrete block where the Gaia trail is. DO NOT TAKE IT! The path just before the cell tower parallels the bog, but on higher and drier ground. The path eventually intersects with the Gaia Trail. Take a left and go up an obvious trail for about .1 miles to the summit.
The total hike was a bit over 4 miles with 900+ feet of elevation. You can shave over a mile if you drive up Old Skiway Rd, take a left on West Side Drive and take an immediate left into a big area with brush piles, where you can park. If you have a car with ground clearance and don't mind driving rutted roads, you can also drive further up Old Skiway Rd. to the shooting range gate, which has plenty of parking on both sides of the road. That would shave off another .75 miles and another 100+ feet of elevation.
NOTE: depending on when you go, you may hear gunfire at the shooting range. It is not a safety issue, but it might be noisy. There was no shooting when we went this morning. |
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 | Name: |
Marty |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-07-26 |
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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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