| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Mountain, Whitecap Mountain , ME |
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 | Trails: |
Black and White Trail, Iles Trail, Starr Trail, River to Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 21, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at all trailheads |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All easily hoppable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are generally in great shape. Some blowdowns on River to Ridge Trail |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great for dogs! |
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 | Bugs: |
Yellow jacket ground nest on one of the upper ski trail crossings on Black Mountain |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Today, we hiked the Black & White Traverse from east to west, ending with the River to Ridge Trail. It was a brisk 32° in the morning and warmed into the 60s, absolutely perfect hiking weather!
The trail up Black Mountain is in great shape, and we enjoyed the various viewpoints on the way up. We did come across one ground bee nest in the trail on the second to last ski trail crossing, but luckily we spotted it ahead of time and were able to bypass it. After passing the high point on Black Mountain, we dropped into the saddle between the two mountains. This section of trail doesn't see very much use, but was in good shape with lots of trail markings. One thing worth noting is that the sign pointing towards Whitecap Mountain in the helicopter landing zone is buried in the grass, and the start of the trail on the west side of the clearing is a bit difficult to spot.
We didn't see anyone the entire way until we hit the Iles Trail on Whitecap Mountain. As soon as we started up that trail, we saw numerous groups all the way to the summit. The views from the summit of Whitecap were spectacular in all directions today, and there were lots of people up there enjoying it.
After enjoying lunch and the summit views, we descended back to the Starr Trail. While not as busy as the Iles Trail, we still saw a couple of groups on it. Turning on to the River to Ridge Trail, we left the well trodden paths behind for a softer and less defined foot bed. This relatively new trail follows the long western ridge of Whitecap to East Andover Road. This section of the hike was one of the most enjoyable and we greatly enjoyed the lesser used path, seeing no one else the rest of the way. After taking the short spur to a final viewpoint above East Andover Road, we made the final steep descent back to the car we had spotted there.
It was a perfect fall day to be out in the mountains, and we really enjoyed doing the Black and White Traverse via this route! |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-09-21 |
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 | Link: |
 https://api-v5.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-september-21-2025-c395e41?p=-1&sh=qriocr&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality |
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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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