| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Kennebago Divide (North Kennebago), White Cap Mountain, Monument Peak, Boundary Peak (Panther Peak), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Porter Brook Road, herd paths, bushwhack, |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, September 20, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Morton Cutoff/ Lincoln Pond Road / Wiggle Brook Road / Porter Brook Road all in amazing shape. Recently regrading and work through all but Porter, excellent shape. There is only one iceberg easily avoidable, roads are so great you honestly do not have to even pay attention. Porter Brook, for a low clearance (and even a mid clearance) at a very noticeable 90 degree turn at about 45.22444, -70.84584, from here attention should be paid. There are about half a dozen wash outs that get progressively more challenging. The last one where most people seem to park you will almost assuredly bottom out on. I would suggest parking at above coordinates, or continue for a bit and as soon as you encounter a washout, find a spot to park and walk. It's a road, its short, and is much faster to walk then wait for a tow truck. (For reference, a Honda Pilot bottomed out on the last one, however with a spotter and creeping, safe passage was achieved on the way out, still pucker factor involved. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Comments: |
A FINE day, five moose, no humans. See road access notes above. It cracks me up - good beta makes everything easy. I had been here many years ago and utilized a route described in the old printout packets the AMC used to provide - the OG "GAIA or ALLFAILS" if you will. This route isn't even on those apps and is so ridiculously easy that without even trying we were on the summit in an hour and fifteen. Without goofing off we could have been in about 45 minutes. it's that easy and intuitive. Kind of a shame as I did actually want to bushwhack. It's more or less herd path highway, and even if you chose to not use a herd path, the woods are very open and easy. The same can be said over to Whitecap, less than an hour. The defacto herd path is littered with blowdowns, but navigable. I guess its a decent trade off of not having to think where to go with the annoyance of the blowdowns. I think we had both summits in 2 hours. From Whitecap to Monument 450, the autobahn like conditions run out but still not too bad. There is on/off herd paths to the col, which is challenging because it goes through a fresher logging cut with raspberries and blowdowns. If you shoot to a more northerly bearing of the col, it will save you some skin - you'll also avoid the bog. Herd path is very evident from col to Monument 450, however this area is absolute blow down central and you will lose it as quickly as you find it. It's more work trying to follow it then it would be to just find a lane that has a lesser amount of blowdowns. Swath was the swath. Hunting starts early October. Some folks out there getting their blinds ready. Summit cannister has been reset. Retraced to 450, to col and then down to the upper portion of the abandoned porter brook road. Overall I thought this was a very mundane and easy trio, the only part that required even a little brain power was about 0.75 miles from WC to 450. Congrats Joanna on 93,94,95. I can't decide if im grid-gridding it, or seasons gridding the 100 :P I'll go anywhere for food. #raccoonforhire |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat, Joanna |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-09-22 |
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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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