| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Albany Mountain, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Albany Mountain Trail, Albany Notch Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, September 26, 2020 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Albany Mountain northern lot was overflowing prior to lunch, with cars lining the narrow road (I haven't been here in a few years, but I've never seen it anywhere near this crowded). No one else parked on the southern approach where the guidebook measures it. One could drive further with a truck, as the water crossing (trap rock) is dry. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Beaver dam crossing on the north end is not an issue at the moment. The small, steep crossing higher up has been relocated since my list visit, so it's much easier and less of an environmental impact. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
North end of the Albany Mountain Trail is perhaps the best maintained mountain trail in the Whites. Excellent footing, good drainage, etc. Unfortunately, someone destroyed a bunch of cairns in the ledgy areas up high and leading to the viewpoint, throwing the rocks on top of moss and vegetation, smothering/killing it.
Heading west/south into the notch, the trail is in rough shape. Very brushy, blowdowns, somewhat hard to follow in places. Night and day compared to the north approach. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
Minimal |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
As mentioned in the trail maintenance notes, the northern approach is in extremely good shape with excellent footing and drainage. Hats off to the volunteer maintainer who did all of the repair work. There has been some logging in recent years on the lower portion of the trail, but it hasn't impacted the actual footbed.
As noted above, someone destroyed a bunch of the cairns up high, throwing rocks onto moss and fragile vegetation. Very disappointing to see. Not only that, but now people are straying off the trail, causing more environmental damage. If you're okay with herd path navigation, you can still follow the path described in the White Mountain Guide to the fantastic southern viewpoint. One of the best views in the region. Lots of folks converging on the summit around the same time, but fortunately most eventually found their way to this viewpoint, where there was plenty of room to spread out on the ledge without impacting each other or vegetation.
Dramatic difference once stepping off the northern approach; instantly very brushy. Felt like an abandoned trail in places heading into the notch. Muddy down in the flats after crossing the snowmobile trail until reaching an area that had been rebuilt many years ago (good mossy footbed from there out).
Excellent fall foliage colors, close to peak. Summer-like weather. |
|
 | Name: |
rocket21 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2020-09-26 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
|
|
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. |
|
