| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Caribou Mountain, Gammon Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Mud Brook Trail, bushwhack, Caribou Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, November 12, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The north section of Route 113 is still open and in good shape. Plenty of parking at the trailhead lot. The potty is still open :) |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues at any on this route today. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are three new-looking downed trees on the Mud Brook Trail: the first is a small step-over while the next two require a minor whack-around. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I saw four on Caribou's summit. This seems like a good route for dogs and there is plenty of water to be had. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Both: my sunglasses. I left them at the Wilderness boundary while taking a break and after I proceeded another half mile I realized I didn't have them. Knowing that I'd need them at the summit - and for a potential bushwhack later - I doubled back and retrieved them. |
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 | Comments: |
I went counter-clockwise to get the short, steep pitches going up but I seemed to be in the minority as many folks were going clockwise. There are a few very small sections of ice on the Mud Brook Trail north of the summit but at no point did I even think about putting spikes on. For the bushwhack to Gammon Mountain I set a bearing nearly due north from the junction and ended up at a plastic pill box on a tree. A few yards away there is another register (glass jar). No idea which one is the 'official' high point - nor do I really care - but I signed both just for fun. If you're going up there the pencil in the glass jar is broken and needs replacing (I found it that way).
I'd guess 95% of the leaves are down here and are mostly covering the trails in the woods. Some caution is wise as what is underneath them is a crap-shoot: roots, rocks, minor depressions and a mud puddle or two. I found a semi-shuffle step to be effective. Not too many blazes on this route: there are many on the Caribou Trail until just after the first crossing from the lot and I did see a few old, partial blazes on the slabs ascending the summit via the Mud Brook Trail from the south. However the footpath is fairly obvious and there are some small cairns to help get to the summit - some of which have yellow tape on them.
Late morning I shared the Caribou Mountain summit with 5-6 folks in addition to the aforementioned dogs. On may way down the Caribou Trail in the early afternoon I passed four hikers going up. Of course there was nobody on the summit of Gammon Mountain - and as far as I can tell nobody has signed either register since August. It was blustery but beautiful at the top of Caribou Mountain with views in all directions. The sights and sounds of Mud Brook and Morrison Brook made this a nice walk in the woods. In all an excellent hike! |
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 | Name: |
HMJ |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-11-12 |
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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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