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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Fulling Mill Mountain - South Peak, Mahoosuc Arm, ME
Trails
Trails: Mahoosuc Trail, May Cutoff, Speck Pond Trail, road walk
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, July 8, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Upon exiting Speck Pond Trail there is a large washout on Success Pond Road just below the trailhead - but after a small clearing off to the side that could fit 2-3 vehicles. Three other washouts on this stretch below the biggie: two minor ones sandwiching a slightly larger one. Success Pond Road was slowly passable with my little Hyundai up to that point - but after having driven about 24 miles total over two days I've had enough of it for a while. I ditched a junker mountain bike in the woods yesterday to get back to my car @ Success Trailhead and that worked out very well.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No problems with crossings of Sucker Brook low on Speck Pond Trail. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Some of the bog bridges in the May Cutoff area have seen better days - but take a misstep and you will be well over your ankle in mud.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any. 
Bugs
Bugs: Flies of different varieties becoming bothersome in the afternoon at lower elevations. One tick found on my hand underneath my biking glove - most certainly a stowaway from when I retrieved my bike in the woods. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: Day two of an overnight trip...

Starting after a night @ Full Goose Campsite I continued N on Mahoosuc Trail up to Fulling Mill's South Peak then down to the infamous Mahoosuc Notch. I found the notch to be very fun even with the fact I had to take my pack off six times to get through it. It seems there were 'options' at a couple of spots and at a couple of others I had to look around for a second or two to find the way through. And yes Virginia: there are still many small piles of SNOW beneath the boulders! After getting out of the notch I found the ascent to Mahoosuc Arm taxing with many steep wet and/or slick slabs making good foot placement a constant challenge. Once at the crest just before the May Cutoff junction it was all worth it for the stunning viewpoint of Old Speck. Some spots low on the Speck Pond Trail showed some 'summer brush' but nothing significant.

Through the notch I crossed paths with about a dozen SOBOs and played leap frog with a lone NOBO. Other than three others heading south I didn't encounter anyone else on these trails. The bike ride back to the car completed a good weekend almost-loop in a very scenic, interesting and remote area.  
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail: trailsntrees(at)gmail(dot)com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-07-09 
Link
Link: https:// 
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