| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Sugarloaf and spaullding, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Sugarloaf ski trails, sugarloaf spur trail, Appalachian trail, Spaulding spur trail, Caribou valley road, herd path to golf course |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, February 20, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at golf course lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Carabasset river solidly bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Numerous bent over spruce and balsams and few small blowdowns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
There is a big issue with the uphill access policy at Sugarloaf. The administration has liability concerns with allowing people who have purchased an access pass from them to leave the resort boundaries and therefore have instructed the ski patrol to deny access to the summit or even to hike on to the spur tail down to the AT. What is completely absurd is that not only is this this information not on their website it seems that the people who sell you the pass at guest services have no knowledge of it either. Understandably the ski patrol is as frustrated with this ongoing fiasco as the hikers are so please be courteous if you find yourself in a similar situation. After considerable discussion with ski patrol and a call to management by the ski patrol supervisor on duty we were allowed to continue. I hope they will improve this situation soon but until then suggest using Caribou road as access.
Found the the start of the spur trail just below the helipad and to the right as you face Spaulding, top was wind drifted in completely but soon a trench was visible. Quick trip down on soft packed powder to the AT. Visible trench most of the way to Spaulding but in some area track was completely obliterated by wind drifts. Several small ups and downs on the ridge before reaching the final climb up to the spur trail to Spaulding summit. Due to snow depth there are branches at head level throughout the ridge traverse. The descent to caribou valley on the At has several short quite steep sections but fortunately no ice, the snow was wet and sticky in these sections. Hit the road and found the herd path to the golf course just before one of the small bridges, did not see any flagging at the start of this path. Perfect weather for this longer than expected hike, finished by headlamp. |
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 | Name: |
Curt S |
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 | E-Mail: |
cmsny@charter.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-02-20 |
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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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