| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Blueberry Mountain, Speckled Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Bickford Brook Trail, Blueberry Ledge Trail, Bickford Slides Loop, Overlook Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 12, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nice modest sized parking lot at Brickett Place. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock hops all. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
1 blowdown per trail, duckunder or stepover. didn't see any sign around Speckled Mtn for Red Rock or Cold Spring trails but I easily could have missed the obvious. Some water in the trails but nothing erosive. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Lots of critters to chase on Bicford Brook, one of which was a big porcupine. Although Pepper chased and barked until I got there, he didn't bite, and the hike went on. Water was available every so often on the trails via small drainages up high, but I'd carry some too. Lots of fine sippin' & dippin' spots in the lower sections. Overall it's a great dog trail. |
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 | Bugs: |
Black flies were present but the wind kept them away in the higher and more open sections if stopped, and just moving was enough elsewhere. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We went up Bickford Brook, down Blueberry Ledge and did both loops. There are nice views from Speckled This gives an easy hike up gentle grades and wonderful views going down on the often open Blueberry Ledge ledges. But going down the steep section of Blueberry Ledge on often wet ledge required some focus, and would have been much easier going up. The outlook loop is a nice easy short section of mostly ledge hiking to a nice overlook. But the highlight of the hike was going up the Bickford Slides loop and back down the BB. The trail is a sometimes faint footpath, with maybe one painted rock “blaze”, but with care easily followed; and the slides/falls are superb. All in all, it was a wonderful hike. If I had thought to bring more water we would have gone over to Stone House to do more trails. Back in 2006, and again in 2007 with Pepper, I/we hiked the NH peaks and trails in the Wild River area and found it to be one of the best parts of the Whites. I’m glad a little redlining got us back. The drive is long but it's well worth it. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-05-12 |
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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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