| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Goose Eye Mountain , ME |
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 | Trails: |
Wright Trail, Appalachian Trail, Goose Eye Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, September 24, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only one slightly tricky crossing near the campsite, but it's doable using a birch log. However, there were many mud holes higher up |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail is clear, but big bridging is in terrible shape |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
It was quite a wild day on Goose Eye today! I decided to hike it via the one route which I hadn't done yet, the Wright Trail. The lower part of the trail was pretty straightforward. It was chilly, and a bit windy, but nothing crazy, however I could hear the wind roaring above.
As soon as I popped out in the alpine zone on the ridge that the Wright Trail follows, things got interesting. I've hiked many mountains, many of which were quite windy, but I think these were the windiest conditions I have ever been in. I estimated the winds sustained at 45-55 mph, gusting to 70-80 mph. This was the first time that I had truly been blown off the trail. After that experience, I devised a strategy to progress in the alpine areas that I called Run, Duck, & Crawl. When the wind wasn't gusting, I would run until it started gusting again. Then I would duck down on all fours and start crawling until the wind let up enough to run again.
Upon reaching the AT, I went to the east peak first, before going back and climbing the main peak. On the ridge near the peaks is where this hike had another surprise in store, rime ice! The trees near both summits had a thick layer of ice on them. What made it even more interesting, was that the wind was blowing chunks of ice off the trees, forming hail-like projectiles. Luckily, the wind on the summits was slightly less intense than the wind on the east ridge.
Although I didn't linger long on either summit, I enjoyed the spectacular views, which Goose Eye never has a shortage of. On the way down, I took the branch of the Wright Trail which runs along Goose Eye Brook in its lower section. It's a good diversion for the last half mile of the trail, with many waterfalls and interesting features to see along the way. The extreme weather makes the mountains even more beautiful, and today's hike was definitely a memorable one! |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-09-24 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaineHiking/permalink/2674138176061893/ |
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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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