| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Peak 2,938 (Township E), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 2, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at Route 4 this time of year |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Some bog crossings with damaged bog bridging were tricky |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Other than bog bridging, the trail is in generally good shape |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good for dogs |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Today's hike was a cold one on the AT into Four Ponds Public Land. We headed south from the trailhead on Route 4 and started climbing into the highlands between Route 4 and Route 17. A mile into the trail, I was surprised to find an excellent viewpoint of Saddleback and the High Peaks. None of the guidebooks or maps mention views in this section, but it was a great view, worthy of a short day hike in itself.
The first pond we reached was South Pond. This remote backcountry pond is very circular and you can see Saddleback in the distance from the shore. After the pond, the trail passed another surprise viewpoint—this one to the north—and traversed some boggy areas. Little Swift River Pond was the next point of interest. There is a campsite on the shore of the pond, and it is another beautiful circular backcountry pond. Interestingly, despite its name, Little Swift River Pond actually drains into the Sandy River watershed, while Swift River Pond drains into the Swift River watershed.
We continued past the pond, climbing towards an unnamed peak which is the highest point on this stretch of trail. As we approached 3,000', we started encountering snow and ice. Temperatures had been in the 30s all hike, and, combined with the wind, it made for some pretty chilly weather. Despite the cold, the snowy spruce-fir forest near the summit was very beautiful. We continued a bit past the summit to the powerline clearing, where we got some views to the north and south, before heading back the way we came to Route 4. |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-11-02 |
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 | Link: |
 https://api-v5.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-november-2-2025-3ac3bd9?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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