| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Elephant Mountain, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Logging road, skidder road, herd path, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 11, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Access to this peak is far easier than most. South Arm Road was well plowed. After yesterdays adventures I kept going "WHY IS THIS SO WIDE AND PAVED?" I felt like cheated to have such easy access. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Several piles of coyote scat |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Again thank you to Prisc, Michelle and Dragoon for tracking this out. Parked on the side of South Arm and walked up the logging road. The snow after yesterday was absolute junk and I was routinely post holing past my knee (I was trying to save the trough). I was only post holing 6-12" in the current trough, but I did my best to correct this on the way out, going insofar as to walk back up and down the trail three times in one section. Hey, you can break a road... From the road, to the first junction, when the logging road turns left the snow got better, even so on the way out. This version differed from my prior summer track, which was also just after they cut. From the 'traditional' summer parking area, about 1/4 mile up a log line enters from the left. I went this way. There is a set of skin tracks that continues down the other road in the direction of the slash area. I did not see evidence of anyone from that side on the summit, but that doesnt mean much its wind scarred and melted out up there. Back to my left on the log line. It goes for about a mile or so, until a skidder spur enters a stand of firs. This was actually a great and felt like cheating way to get elevation and distance. It menacingly climbs to about 3300 or so until abruptly ending. From here it gets pokey but the line I was afforded was a dream trip. Only one short lived section of anything that resembled thick. Gorgeous woods. Thankfully the snow that was falling all day warmed up to freezing ice pellets on the summit so I didn't linger much. On the way out the snow was getting softer due to ambient, so I WILDLY cut the switchbacks, saving over a mile. Figure if I was going to be slogging I might as well have fun with it. Followed a moose track for a bit as he was going in the general direction I was. |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-02-11 |
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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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