| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Pleasant Mountain, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Ledges Trail, Bald Peak Trail, North Ridge Trail, Sue's Way, roadwalk |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Mountain Road is dry and in good shape. Room for three cars at parking area on Mountain Road, opposite trailhead for Ledges Trail. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Small Patches, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Snow bridges are complete gone, but none of the water crossings are an issue, anyway. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few small blowdowns here and there, all easily negotiated. Sign for Needles Eye spur trail (on Bald Peak Trail) has been pulled off. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No water except in small crossing on Sue's Way, but then plenty available for the last half-mile of the Bald Peak Trail where it originates on Mountain Road. |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
A single ski glove was left at the trailhead for the Ledges Trail. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
We parked along Mountain Road, at the Ledges Trail trailhead (~ 3.0 miles in from Route 302), and did a loop along the ridge, down the Bald Peak Trail, and an ~ 1.2-mile roadwalk.
In general, all trails are packed powder/ice and light traction was very helpful.
Ledges Trail, with large areas of southern exposure, has dry patches, some mud, and some blue ice floes (easily walked around).
One small section on Sue's Way has a large ice floe in and just past where the trail enters a rock slot. Given the trail's location here (edge of the hill), it can take a minute or two to negotiate and at least light traction is necessary.
A very nice hike with quite a bit of bang for the buck, including the unobstructed views west to the Presidential Range. The Loon Echo Land Trust provides very nice, detailed trail maps, free of charge, at the Ledges Trail and Bald Peak Trail trailheads.
Afterwards, we took a quick drive over to the trailhead for the Fire Wardens Trail (on Wilton Warren Road) to check out the trail conditions there. The paved portion of Wilton Warren is in good shape, but the unpaved section near the trailhead is starting to get a bit muddy and with a good rain or two and warm temperatures could be dicey -- mud season already. Just past the trailhead (headed toward Denmark Road), the road dries out quickly and is in good shape -- for the time-being, that may be the best way to access this trailhead.
Parking area for Fire Wardens Trail is pretty muddy/chewed up, and the first section of the trail is pretty muddy, as well.
|
|
 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2012-02-22 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
