| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Sugarloaf Mountain, Spaulding Mountain, Mt. Abraham, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Caribou Pond Road, Appalachian Trail, Sugarloaf Side Trail, Spaulding Side Trail, Abraham Side Trail, bushwhack, logging roads |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, July 24, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking at the gate of Caribou Pond Road was not a problem. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There is a board over the Carrabasset River at the start of the trail that was fine. On the logging roads there were several crossings of small streams, some of which need some wading. I went over my boots once, but it was pretty refreshing. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I bushwhacked from the junction with the AT and Abraham spur west to the logging roads, following a GPX route someone had shared and a herd path. This part of the route was not maintained at all, and heavily overgrown. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The first half along the AT is on a ridge so limited water. There is a good spring at the Spaulding Shelter. Not sure how well a dog would do on the bushwhack, pushing through vegetation. |
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 | Bugs: |
Amazingly few. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I did these peaks as a loop, starting at the Caribou Pond Road and then following the AT and the spurs up Sugarloaf, Spaulding and Abraham, then bushwacking west and south west to the logging roads and out . I spent the night at the Spaulding Shelter. The first half is a strenuous hike, although there are some extended stretches of lovely ridge hiking between the peaks. Beautiful weather, no bugs. The herd trail from the AT to the logging roads is overgrown and I would not try it without a GPX file and a compass. I was pushing through new conifers a good deal of the way, and there was a stretch of tall grass and old logs where I couldn't see a herd trail, but most of the way I was following a herd trail and perhaps an old tote road. Some of the logging roads were also pretty overgrown. A good hike but be careful. |
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 | Name: |
Tim Belcher |
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 | E-Mail: |
tim.belche1@mac.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-07-26 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/sugarloaf-spaulding-abraham-loop-via-at-and-caribou-pond-road-jul-25-5-28-pm-367147f?u=i |
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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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