View Full Version : Me. Conditions
Has anyone hiked between US2 near Gorham and Me. Hwy 17 lately? I hear there has been a lot of rain and hikers have been slowed by this. About how many days have people been taking between these two points?
I will be doing that section southbound next month and it may be totally different by then but I'm trying to get an idea.
Thanks
SeaEagle:-?
peakbagger
06-27-2009, 06:31
I havent hiked it, but I live locally and the Mahoosucs are real wet and buggy these days. The woods are definitely "lush" with all the rain. The area tends to be buggy lately well until late July, although an extended hot and warm stretch eventually dries it out.
When I hiked north of US2 out of Gorham in August 2006 there had been little or no maintenance and the trail was quite overgrown. Does AMC still neglect that section? The club had done a terrific job up till then.
Thanks for the info. Anyone experienced really high water between US 2 and HWY 17 lately? The only large stream I see on my map is Bemis Stream; are there others?
SeaEagle
High Life
06-29-2009, 10:31
it wasnt too bad the last couple years , expect some washed out areas on the Arm
but the AMC has been working on it more in the last couple years
Thanks.
Is August usually drier than July or is it impossible to predict?
SeaEagle
SouthMark
06-29-2009, 11:16
Just returned from hiking Stratton to Andover. Lots of rain but ok, just wet. Made for some slick climbing and very slick decents. Bugs were not that bad yet.
Slo-go'en
06-29-2009, 11:17
Its been raining way to much to go into the woods around here lately. And its suppost to rain on and off all week agian.
Anyway, there aren't any significant stream crossings in that section, but there are some pretty soggy areas and watch out for mud holes that you can sink down in to up to your knees, especially at the top of Mahoosuc arm. The trail wasn't too overgrown when I hiked that streach last fall.
JBugs were not that bad yet.
Cuz they all drownded.
SouthMark
06-29-2009, 13:24
Thanks for the info. Anyone experienced really high water between US 2 and HWY 17 lately? The only large stream I see on my map is Bemis Stream; are there others?
SeaEagle
Bemis was an easy rock hop last Wednesday. Black Brook just off South Arm Road went from a rock hop Friday morning to a waist deep wade Friday afternoon.
Wrangler88
06-29-2009, 13:51
Reading all of this, while sitting at the bus station in Portland, awaiting the bus to take me north for the start of my thru. And outside? -- Rain.
Yay.:eek:
Reading all of this, while sitting at the bus station in Portland, awaiting the bus to take me north for the start of my thru. And outside? -- Rain.
Yay.:eek:
Give ya something to bitch about, the weather. State sport. Will be better later in the week. Still crappy, but better.
Welcome to Maine. Should have brought me some pecans.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/me/nwis/rt
Oh, the price of having failed to bring pecans! Is Pamola posting under mudhead's screen name today?:eek:
Pamola gods require a sacrifice of some kind, in order to live to tell about your climb.
Is that what he's wanting these days, pecans? Seems a small price to pay for the view from the top.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/me/nwis/rt
HOLY SMOKES !!!!
feel like i'm floating after looking at that site :eek:
Youse guys tread lightly. Don't want to irritate anything.
feel like i'm floating after looking at that site :eek:
You may want to start keeping a list of the tallest white pines not already claimed by great blue herons.:-?
I think the water gods are wanting some sacrifice too...., just sayin,
before you cross any rivers or streams, offer up whatever you can spare...
Thought you might like some water along with the loons we sent to keep them afloat!:D
HOLY SMOKES !!!!
feel like i'm floating after looking at that site :eek:
Is pretty yeehaw!, eh?
Click the "statewide streamflow" and check Rumford. Even the St. John is excited.
I wonder if they will have to redo the road at Grafton Notch, again.
Pretty ridiculous for this time of year. All the rock around here on the coast is greasy with "algae." Even my concrete pavers in the back yard.
Love all the comments! Rain or not, I can't wait to get up there! How was the current in Black Brook, Southmark?:D
Love all the comments!
Glad you enjoyed them. I enjoy playing with those two sometimes and it shows.:)
I dunno about you, but i hate the way that brown boiling water looks as it passes by.
Its almost saying: come hither....
I used to think you were, okay. Now, I'm beginning to wonder. When I see that kind of water, I start looking for tall white pines or better yet tall oaks with tall white pines nearby should I need to climb higher.
I used to think you were, okay. Now, I'm beginning to wonder.
I think some others are beginning to wonder too :rolleyes: :D
I dunno about you, but i hate the way that brown boiling water looks as it passes by.
Its almost saying: come hither....
Come hither? You been watching Lifetime?
wcgornto
06-29-2009, 21:01
I went up and down Big K on June 14, had a hail storm near the summit. I went into the 100 mile on the 15th. It started raining on the 18th. It hasn't yet reached Noah proportions yet, but it has gone from unreasonable to ridiculous to sublime.
I have had zero views from any peaks ... Whitecap, Chairback, Barren, Moxie Bald, Pleasant. Bigelows coming up. Going up and down Pleasant yesterday in the rain was not pleasant, especially the descent SOBO, something like a million foot drop in a tenth of a mile (or so it seemed) in monsoon rain.
To describe the trail, it alternates between mud, pond and river, with a few sections of actual trail in between. Unless you have hip high boots, your feet will be wet, because you will slip off of a rock, or a root, or a bog bridge somewhere and go in knee deep. I have non water proof trail runners and I hike in completely soaked and mud caked shoes every day.
The trail goes over many ridges, with seemingly coarse, rough rocks on these ridges. With the rain, it is like walking on bowling balls in roller skates. I do not trust very many steps anywhere. I would have broken my coccyx many times but for the cushioning support of my pack.
And the logs. It is like being in a lumberjack contest to see who can stay on the spinning log the longest. The "flat" bog bridges ... if they are tilted at a 4 degree angle and you are not ultra careful, they are just devices for deftly transporting you into the bog.
River crossings ... the east branch of the Pleasant River is treacherous, made worse by this non-stop rain. It is one of the narrowest crossings, but definitely the most dangerous. There are rope supports over Long Pond Stream and Big Wilson Stream. They are unnecessary in both cases, as these crossings are not that bad. The rope crossing over Long Pond Stream is poorly placed, as the crossing is much easier 20 yards upstream. The other difficult crossing is a few miles north of Moxie Bald (Piscacagua??? or something like that). This crossing has three branches coming together. It is a tough crossing, but manageable. The way to cross here is to cross each of the three branches individually upstream before the point where they converge. So, in effect, it is actually three stream crossings. I cross the Kennebec tomorrow morning by the ferry.
I am having a great time. The conditions are what they are, but I hike on, taking every precaution to ensure that I do not sustain a hike ending injury. Until there is a solid week of no rain in Maine, the conditions will remain the same.
modiyooch
06-29-2009, 22:48
grrrrrwlll!! I guess I have to regroup and punt. I was heading that way in 36 hours. I'm now going to wait until July 22. I don't want a repeat of last year where I was hiking Wildcat NH and then the wilderness in heavy downpours. I'm now going to take my 2 wk July vacation and 2 wk Aug vacation at the same time.
While I'm waiting these three weeks, how 'bout a tradeoff? Why don't you guys come to NC and hike and I will shuttle you. It's 95 degrees in my home town. I went to Mt Mitchell Sunday 6600 ft to get out of the heat. It was 69 degrees, clear and dry.
I went up and down Big K on June 14, had a hail storm near the summit. I went into the 100 mile on the 15th. It started raining on the 18th. It hasn't yet reached Noah proportions yet, but it has gone from unreasonable to ridiculous to sublime.
I have had zero views from any peaks ... Whitecap, Chairback, Barren, Moxie Bald, Pleasant. Bigelows coming up. Going up and down Pleasant yesterday in the rain was not pleasant, especially the descent SOBO, something like a million foot drop in a tenth of a mile (or so it seemed) in monsoon rain.
To describe the trail, it alternates between mud, pond and river, with a few sections of actual trail in between. Unless you have hip high boots, your feet will be wet, because you will slip off of a rock, or a root, or a bog bridge somewhere and go in knee deep. I have non water proof trail runners and I hike in completely soaked and mud caked shoes every day.
The trail goes over many ridges, with seemingly coarse, rough rocks on these ridges. With the rain, it is like walking on bowling balls in roller skates. I do not trust very many steps anywhere. I would have broken my coccyx many times but for the cushioning support of my pack.
And the logs. It is like being in a lumberjack contest to see who can stay on the spinning log the longest. The "flat" bog bridges ... if they are tilted at a 4 degree angle and you are not ultra careful, they are just devices for deftly transporting you into the bog.
River crossings ... the east branch of the Pleasant River is treacherous, made worse by this non-stop rain. It is one of the narrowest crossings, but definitely the most dangerous. There are rope supports over Long Pond Stream and Big Wilson Stream. They are unnecessary in both cases, as these crossings are not that bad. The rope crossing over Long Pond Stream is poorly placed, as the crossing is much easier 20 yards upstream. The other difficult crossing is a few miles north of Moxie Bald (Piscacagua??? or something like that). This crossing has three branches coming together. It is a tough crossing, but manageable. The way to cross here is to cross each of the three branches individually upstream before the point where they converge. So, in effect, it is actually three stream crossings. I cross the Kennebec tomorrow morning by the ferry.
I am having a great time. The conditions are what they are, but I hike on, taking every precaution to ensure that I do not sustain a hike ending injury. Until there is a solid week of no rain in Maine, the conditions will remain the same.
Good write up on your hike, telling it the way it is.
Heres to hoping you see some sun before you leave the Pine Tree State.
Good write up on your hike, telling it the way it is.
Heres to hoping you see some sun before you leave the Pine Tree State.
And for more than 10 minutes!
You could do me a favor and post up a mud and bug report further down the line. Always enjoy those.
No skiing on bog logs.
NWS (http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/6541602.html) is calling it Maine's 5th rainiest June on record
Slo-go'en
06-30-2009, 15:39
There's something wrong with the weather today. There's a big bright light in the sky and a strange blue color.
SouthMark
06-30-2009, 16:52
Just thought that I would add; be careful what you wish for. While on the AT in Maine during June, several times I wished for the rain to stop and the sun come out. I returned home last week to sunshine, 98º with a heat index of 107º and no rain expected in the next few weeks. I think I'll take the rain in Maine.
Don't you worry. It feels hot enough right about now to knock up a sheep.
Mind if I link the last last post from Teej meata tawk leica Mainer?
wcgornto
07-03-2009, 13:34
I have reached Stratton. The section of trail between Caratunk and Stratton seems to be a bit better than the sections notth of Caratunk, though there is one bog section where the bog bridges are actually floating, creating a Donkey Kong / Mario Brothers obstacle course challenge to cross.
The next obstacle in my quest is that the Carrabassett river is apparently uncrossable. SOBO hikers have been shuttling to Sugarloaf and rejoining the AT via the Sugarloaf blue blaze trail, thus skipping Crocker Mountain and about ten miles of trail. I am zeroing today in Stratton plotting my strategy to not skip any trail. Apparently, there is a forest service road or some sort of road near the Carrabassett and I am hoping I can hike over the maoutain and down to the river and be shuttled out there.
ATC official recognition for a weather caused by-pass or not, it will forever plague me if I skip trail and I will have to return to Maine some years later just to complete those ten miles. Better to hike them now one way or the other while I am here.
The rain has kept the black flies down such that they have been a non-issue. The mosquitoes, on the other hand, are abundant and voracious. I have kept them off of me pretty well with permethrin treated clothes and Ben's 100 on exposed skin.
My next town stop is Andover and I will provide another update then.
modiyooch
07-03-2009, 18:23
I
My next town stop is Andover and I will provide another update then.
Thanks. Please keep us posted. I'm hoping it dries out by then end of July.
wcgornto
07-04-2009, 18:08
Well, today I shuttled around Crocker and slackpacked back to Stratton. A northbounder came to town yesterday after crossing the Carrabassett and said it was not that difficult. I took a look at the river this morning and the flow has indeed subsided. The river could have been crossed today without great difficulty. Of the eight southbounders congregated at Stratton Motel yesterday, four bypassed to Sugarloaf and skipped Crocker, three (including me) slackpacked and hiked Crocker back to Stratton and one decided to put in at the trailhead and cross the river. So, only one made the best decision based on the actual trail conditions today. I made a prudent, careful decision and managed not to skip trail, so I am happy.
On a related note, I heard that the Kennebec ferry shut down about four days ago the day after I crossed do to excessive flow / current. I don't know if it has resumed operations yet. No southbounders have come into town today.
Tomorrow, I shuttle to Sugarloaf to rejoin the trail and onward to Andover.
This is all so sobering..I start on July 14th. Hope conditions improve somewhat by then! If not, I hope I can write about it as well as you have, wcgornto!
Slo-go'en
07-05-2009, 12:03
The pesty low preasure which has been stuck in Quebec the last couple of weeks and causing all this rain is starting to move north and east. It is still quite overcast and on the cool side here in the Whites, but maybe it will start to feel like summer soon.
The ground is staturated with water and it will take a week or two to dry out, provided we don't have too much more rain in the mean time!
High Life
07-05-2009, 12:46
Bemis was an easy rock hop last Wednesday. Black Brook just off South Arm Road went from a rock hop Friday morning to a waist deep wade Sataurday afternoon.
last year Black brook was a tough crossing and a wet one for most
be careful here :cool:
boarstone
07-06-2009, 20:19
grrrrrwlll!! I guess I have to regroup and punt. I was heading that way in 36 hours. I'm now going to wait until July 22. I don't want a repeat of last year where I was hiking Wildcat NH and then the wilderness in heavy downpours. I'm now going to take my 2 wk July vacation and 2 wk Aug vacation at the same time.
While I'm waiting these three weeks, how 'bout a tradeoff? Why don't you guys come to NC and hike and I will shuttle you. It's 95 degrees in my home town. I went to Mt Mitchell Sunday 6600 ft to get out of the heat. It was 69 degrees, clear and dry.
Hey there Modiyooch! Sorry I didn't call you but I made out okay, no lost pack/luggage, had a good hike up and over Mt. Sterling in the Smokies. Finished up my time in Asheville hanging out at Bon Paul and Sharky's hostel. Great place and people! Loved Asheville, got to see a lot of the downtown and local crafters art. It was dry my whole week there and now I come home and into the rain I go..:(
From what we've been hearing, flip-floppers may want to consider traveling a bit further north before flipping to Maine (or leapfrogging the mid-Atlantic and continuing north in southern New England), to hopefully allow things to dry out. Even if things have improved as described in wcgornto's latest post, hiking could be pretty rough in Maine for the hiker not used to these conditions, if more rain comes. This is just a suggestion, not an official recommendation.
Here are some observations I've stitched together from two emails sent today by Dave Field, longtime Maine A.T. Club maintainer and club leader (he has seen wcgornto's posts from WhiteBlaze):
"The southbounder's (wcgornto) notes pretty well tell it all, and he was just about to head into one of the worst areas. The A.T. in 'southern Maine' is in the mountains where the rainfall has been the worst. The South Branch of the Carrabassett River, Orbeton Stream, and Black Brook are especially bad. I have reports of southbounders waiting for the water to go down at each of these crossings.
We have actually had a couple of days without rain and the end of this week looks good. The mountain streams go up and down fairly rapidly, but the ground is absolutely saturated so all it takes is one good thunderstorm to jump the water levels back up.
I'm attaching a photo I took a week ago of a tiny stream near Maine Route 4 that one can normally step across.
Maine experienced the wettest June in history, and the area that the A.T. passes through received as much as a foot, with some thunderstorms dropping 3-4 inches in a matter of a couple of hours. I've just learned that the road access I've used for years to get to my section of the Trail on Saddleback has completely blown out, leaving me with a walk of 4-5 miles before I even reach the Trail.
Hikers have been stranded by high water all across the state, and there has been significant footpath damage. I met with State DOT folks last Monday at the Route 4 crossing near Rangeley where road reconstruction has blown away three corridor monuments. I then walked over a mile of the A.T. and it was like whitewater canoing!
Attached is a photo of our footbridge over the Sandy River, where the distance from the bridge to the water is usually about 8 feet."
Laurie P.
ATC
Wettest on record? Fan**tastic!
Guess I'll have some stories to tell when I make it out of Maine!
modiyooch
07-08-2009, 08:25
it was very wet last august. I can remember standing in a gap which was a lake at that point with water flowing down from every side. I had a hard time figuring out the trail. The bog planks were a foot under. I was headed south and I passed no one. Later found out that was because no one was getting thru the rivers. I had to abort out of the wilderness by evening with everyone else.
I have postponed my original trip, but plan to be out there in 2 weeks. I hope you guys get some decent weather soon to dry things. I fear the falls the most. Had plenty of them last year.
I do have a friend, Flexible, that started in Gorham on July 6. He is planning to finish the AT this month. I hope he is OK. Let me know if you see him.
wcgornto
07-10-2009, 14:54
I am in Andover now. Everything is just as wet on the trail as it has been. Oberton Stream and Sawyer Brook were fairly easy crossings (four days and one day ago, respectively). There have been a couple of sunny days lately mixed among the rain. I went over Saddleback on a spectacular day, had my first views from mountaintops and then the rain returned that evening. I am now in the middle of the second sunny day in a row, a first for my hike through Maine other than the first two days of the 100 mile wilderness. I hear the rain is due to return tomorrow.
I will soon be in New Hampshire, so unless I encounter something unusual or noteworthy in the next couple of days, I probably won't have other contributions to this thread. I have enjoyed sharing the information.
WcGornto;
Thanks for the info. How were Bemis Stream and Black Brook?
Debbie
modiyooch
07-10-2009, 15:48
I am in Andover now. Everything is just as wet on the trail as it has been. Oberton Stream and Sawyer Brook were fairly easy crossings (four days and one day ago, respectively). There have been a couple of sunny days lately mixed among the rain. I went over Saddleback on a spectacular day, had my first views from mountaintops and then the rain returned that evening. I am now in the middle of the second sunny day in a row, a first for my hike through Maine other than the first two days of the 100 mile wilderness. I hear the rain is due to return tomorrow.
I will soon be in New Hampshire, so unless I encounter something unusual or noteworthy in the next couple of days, I probably won't have other contributions to this thread. I have enjoyed sharing the information.You should be running into Flexible and A.T.O.M. Please pass along greetings from NC
wcgornto
07-10-2009, 18:58
WcGornto;
Thanks for the info. How were Bemis Stream and Black Brook?
Debbie
I don't remember those specific crossings, but I had no problems with any crossing between Stratford and Andover (other than the Carrabassett which I did not attempt).
modiyooch
07-18-2009, 09:26
My friend, Flexible, just hiked 75 miles July 6-16 from Rangeley to Gorham.. Both he and his hiking buddy had to quit due to ER visit with black, infected feet.
Anyone heard from WCGORNTO lately??
The Scribe
07-18-2009, 11:35
Camped at South Arm from July 7-12. Surprised at so FEW bugs.
They all drownded.
Or they are waiting for modiyooch.
How wet are the woods there?
The Scribe
07-18-2009, 13:44
They all drownded.
Or they are waiting for modiyooch.
How wet are the woods there?
Hey Mudhead
Woods VERY wet. We tried to supplement our firewood supply from the campground with downed stuff. I had to resort to birch bark on two different days to get a fire going. And we even brought dry kindling from home. We were out on the lake on one of the remote sites.
I would say the water was high but it was my first time on that lake so nothing to compare it to. Looking at the shoreline though it looked to be up there.
Left a few Hersey bars at the trail crossing at South Arm Rd. on our way out. Kicked myself for not thinking through a full trail magic cooler beforehand. Could have left it off on the way in and picked it up on our way out. We do that whenever we go up to Greenville. Brain cramp this time I guess.
modiyooch
07-18-2009, 14:25
They all drownded.
Or they are waiting for modiyooch.
How wet are the woods there?
cooled my jets long enough. no longer worried about them bugs. I guess I'll have to bring the sun up with me.
cooled my jets long enough. no longer worried about them bugs. I guess I'll have to bring the sun up with me.
Bring enough so you can leave some!
wcgornto
07-25-2009, 11:24
My friend, Flexible, just hiked 75 miles July 6-16 from Rangeley to Gorham.. Both he and his hiking buddy had to quit due to ER visit with black, infected feet.
Anyone heard from WCGORNTO lately??
I am still out here. I am in Lincoln, NH today, headed back out tomorrow to finish the Whites with Kinsman and Moosilauke mountains.
I hiked / sheltered with ATOM and Flexible a couple of days. Very pleasant guys. I saw all kinds of foot doctoring going on.
New Hampshire has generally been much dryer, but tougher, than Maine. However, a good bit of rain over the past couple of days turned the trail from Garfield to LaFayette and down into Franconia Notch into mudholes in places, giving me great reminiscence for my time in Maine.
I'm thinking its all going to dry up this year when it freezes over in November/December...again.
Thanks for the update wcgornto.
I'm thinking its all going to dry up this year when it freezes over in November/December...again.
So, then everything is back to normal, eh?
giving me great reminiscence for my time in Maine.
Didn't want to have you forget us and our charming weather.
Thanks for the report. Be safe.
So, then everything is back to normal, eh?
Yep, its wet, wet, wet; welcome to Maine
see you out there in November/December:D
teachergal
07-25-2009, 19:02
I was just in Maine - RV camped at South Arm for 4 nights! It was wonderful! :-) I hiked just a small portion of the AT and it was very wet! I hiked about a mile south of South Arm Road (didn't realize there was an overlook and didn't go that far! agghhh!!! It had been dry for a few days when I hiked yet the trail was still very muddy. The woods were very lush and green! Lots of moss!
In Grafton Notch I hiked up the Table Rock trail and then came down on the AT - again it was very muddy.
The area has gotten more rain since then though so....
I can highly recommend South Arm Campground - it's 4 miles from the AT on South Arm Road - you might be able to hitch to get there...it's a lovely place! They don't have much in terms of resupply, but they do have free showers and coin laundry!
Got back from Maine Thursday. The locals said this has been wicked wet all summer. I know i had no trouble finding water sources.
dessertrat
07-29-2009, 17:21
Incredibly muddy out there. I just got back from the Hundred Miles, and it was quite a slog. If I had known how much it would rain, I wouldn't have gone, but I did it-- it rained five days of the eight days I was on the trail. The fords are high and dangerous in places, and the mud is hell. Be advised.
Cookerhiker
07-29-2009, 23:11
Last week I hiked from Grafton Notch to South Arm Road. Yep, quite a bit of mud and water but at least the flat rocks on East Bald Pate weren't slippery.
Had problems at the Moody Mountain detour. Word was that the detour was marked with ribbon. So I cross Sawyer Brook (northbound) and come to some blue ribbons going off to the left but there's no sign. What to do? There were footprints both on the AT and along the blue ribbons so I followed the latter. Mistake! Slabbing and sliding, I finally came to the end of the detour where the blue ribbons joined with orange ribbons (the real detour) and the trail. Here on the north end of the detour there were 2 signs saying to follow the orange ribbons, not the blue. So what was the purpose of the blue ribbons and why wasn't there a sign at the south end?
At South Arm Rd., my boots were so wet & muddy, I waded across the brook and washed everything out. Felt good!
Shutterbug
07-29-2009, 23:24
Last week I hiked from Grafton Notch to South Arm Road. Yep, quite a bit of mud and water but at least the flat rocks on East Bald Pate weren't slippery.
Had problems at the Moody Mountain detour. Word was that the detour was marked with ribbon. So I cross Sawyer Brook (northbound) and come to some blue ribbons going off to the left but there's no sign. What to do? There were footprints both on the AT and along the blue ribbons so I followed the latter. Mistake! Slabbing and sliding, I finally came to the end of the detour where the blue ribbons joined with orange ribbons (the real detour) and the trail. Here on the north end of the detour there were 2 signs saying to follow the orange ribbons, not the blue. So what was the purpose of the blue ribbons and why wasn't there a sign at the south end?
At South Arm Rd., my boots were so wet & muddy, I waded across the brook and washed everything out. Felt good!
I made the same mistake a couple of years ago -- followed a blue ribbon trial. Apparently they mark the boundry of a hunting lease. I got to see some interesting area including a bear baiting location, but had to back track to find the AT again.
modiyooch
07-30-2009, 09:53
hiked s. arm to rt 17, and rt 4 to saddleback mt and I have no complaint of the conditions. Last week in NH was worse. I would say the ME mud is level 3-5 on a scale of 10. My feet are not wet. I had feared much worse. I have experienced much worse (last year this time) the 80 degree temps are a big plus. Now, the 2 inches of rain last night may present a different story today. Bugs don't seem to be an issue. awesome views!!!
modiyooch
07-30-2009, 09:57
Bring enough so you can leave some!
ok, you got it. 85 degrees make you happy?
I wanted to kvetch about the heat and humidity, but held my tongue.
Hard shot of rain/boomer coming tomorrow afternoon. Dry air after for Sat/Sun.
I thank you for the warm.:sun
Frick Frack
07-30-2009, 11:14
Ahhh Maine....I see nothing has changed. I will never hike in ME again unless it is Sept/Oct.
Cookerhiker
07-30-2009, 23:00
For the 2 days I hiked in Maine last week, at least the black flies weren't resurrected. Hiking a few days ago in the Whites, we were besieged by them from about Mt. Garfield to Galehead Hut & South Twin Mountain. We were told that this year's weather - especially the copious rain - led to a "second hatching."
Back in Maine on Saturday to hike the Bemis Range. Black flies, be gone!
modiyooch
07-31-2009, 21:01
hiked s. arm to rt 17, and rt 4 to saddleback mt and I have no complaint of the conditions. Last week in NH was worse. I would say the ME mud is level 3-5 on a scale of 10. My feet are not wet. I had feared much worse. I have experienced much worse (last year this time) the 80 degree temps are a big plus. Now, the 2 inches of rain last night may present a different story today. Bugs don't seem to be an issue. awesome views!!!spoke too soon. had to ford a mud puddle at sugarloaf yesterday, and today my feet are officially wet due to hiking in the rain. Saw larger puddles today!
Fine day to do Avery. Hope you enjoyed it.
modiyooch
08-03-2009, 20:53
Fine day to do Avery. Hope you enjoyed it.
It was. I did. Wind was howling. Did little Bigelow today. Weather was perfect. I can't complain. I have had the views, including Mt. Lafayette in NH. Hope to be out by tomorrow. I'll be at lower elevations. That will be a true test of the mud and bugs.
Cookerhiker
08-03-2009, 23:03
Hiked over the Bemis Range Saturday from South Arm Rd. up Old Blue, over to the Bemises and finally to Rt. 17 in one day. Beautiful day for hiking after a soaking rain the day before. As expected, lots of mud and standing water. The saddle between Old Blue and Bemis was particularly mucky.
Had some nice views on the northernmost Bemises. The descent was slow because of the wet steep rocks but I fared better than my August '05 hike (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=114621) when the rocks (and poor boots) kept me falling. Mosquitos were out but not bad on the flat rocks.
We had intended to spend the night around the shelter but having arrived before 4, we decided to push on so I lugged my tent and sleeping bag all for naught. By the time we reached Bemis Stream, I waded through with boots, socks, and all, washing everything out.
That's all the hiking for now. Spent yesterday in Boston and today in Plymouth. On to Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard.
Apparently our long awaited summer has arrived.
There is this bright thing in the blue sky that we hardly recognize.
Rivers were raging brown yesterday after the latest deluge.
Putting the hiking boots and backpack on (first time since snow left)this afternoon for a walk in the woods to higher and drier country, a prelude to future expeditions.
Hopefully i wont Tumbledown the mountain.
It was. I did. Wind was howling. Did little Bigelow today. Weather was perfect. .
Cool. :sun
Can I kvetch about humidity yet? I don't think so.
Say hello to Mr. Jackson, Woodsy!
modiyooch
08-05-2009, 11:18
thanks to whomever placed the rocks in the mud so that I could hopscotch through the mud for endless miles yesterday. Yes, I encountered the mud around W Carry Pond and Round MT; but still kept my feet dry. It's an art.
This is my take on mud: If I can straddle, bypass, swing or hop through it without getting sucked in or wet, or if the planks are above the water; I consider mud not an issue. Those of you that just plow through the mud, could better attest to the depth of the mud situation. I will say, that I did have enough of it yesterday. I don't plow through the mud, not only to keep my feet dry; but I have sunk 3 feet deep before and that's enough to make me overly cautious
As for the bugs, they are what they are. IMO, I don't think that it's much different on the trail than at the gas station or anywhere else in ME. I do need a break from the Deet.
modiyooch
08-05-2009, 11:26
Cool. :sun
Can I kvetch about humidity yet? I don't think so.
Say hello to Mr. Jackson, Woodsy!nope, I have one more week in NH and one more 4000 footer
Thurs, Friday should be premium.
And I do mean premium.
Seems like it's drier than it has been all summer right now. Still wet, but better than it has been. The next month is going to be prime.
Seems like it's drier than it has been all summer right now. Still wet, but better than it has been. The next month is going to be prime.
Perhaps. It's warmer today as a southern weather pattern passes through. But there's been increasing touches of fall here on midcoast Maine. Hmmm. Is is right to have fall come after only six days of summer?
Weather forecasts these days more often than not warn of "likely frost in the mountain valleys."
Weary
It's supposed to be 25 here tonight. Yikes!
30*F here this AM.
Hope it knocks back the mold.