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Date of Hike: 6/9/2012 Trail Conditions: Trail wet down low but traction was fine. There is one large blowdown practically within sight of the parking lot that is high enough for short people like me to have an problem with. A herd path has formed around it, causing some unsightly erosion...

Some sad news regarding the Alchemist: "Disaster strikes Waterbury. The Alchemist Pub and Brewery was ruined in a once in a generation flood on Sunday night August 28, 2011. While the cannery is fine and on target to open this coming Friday, the Pub will be closed for the foreseeable future...

Route 27 (Maine) is shut down from Kingfield to Wyman Township. I have to wonder how much worse this storm made the already terrible CVR. Read more: http://www.wmtw.com/weather/29008878/detail.html#ixzz1WQxmsraZ

And as usual I'm behind the times. I really need to read more threads before posting/replying. I see that your trip was several days ago... Well perhaps my info on the campgrounds will help someone else in the future :)

I grew up half a mile from Paul Bunyan Campground and used it as a playground as the owners kids were my age and rode my bus, so that certainly comes to mind for me. A mile further out Rt. 222 is Pleasant Hill campground, in Hermon. I really can't recommend one over the other, as I haven't set...

The 2005 record was just broken: Jennifer Pharr Davis "...had gone through five pairs of hybrid hiking and running shoes while averaging about 47 miles a day, or nearly two marathons. "No one keeps official speed records for the trail, but Davis said she broke Andrew Thompson's 2005 mark for...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/24/alaska.bear.attack/ So much for assurances that bears don't attack groups of six or more. It looks as though 4 people in the group were attacked in total, 2 life-threatening, and 2 serious but not critical. Three more in the group had minor or "exposure-related"...

Thanks everyone for the replies. We did this hike on Saturday, and my girlfriend did fine on the terrain. It was indeed a bit more challenging overall than anything she'd encountered before (aside from the scramble near the top of Webster Jackson) but she did great and I think it helped build...

Date of Hike: 07/23/2011 Trail Conditions: Very dry. The bridged water crossings had just a trickle under them, so consider this if you're planning on refilling water from mountain sources right now. Otherwise the trail seemed to be well maintained. Special Equipment Required: Water...

For what it's worth, bugs were almost entirely absent today. I had a few deerflies buzzing on the descent down from Chimney Pond, but only have 1 bite to show for an entire day out. I did apply a thin layer of Ultrathon at the start but never bothered to reapply. My girlfriend accompanied me...

Date of Hike: 7/17/2011 Trail Conditions: Very dry, everywhere. No mud, dry pond is dry, streams are dry, Chimney Pond is low (but you can get water of course, it just isn't as cold and refreshing as usual). Lots of new boardwalks, bog bridges in top shape. Hamlin Ridge is steep as usual...

Ah Maddy, but in my experience the thing to contend with on Katahdin is usually blackflies, even in July. And I've not found DEET to be particularly effective against those. The head net isn't a bad idea though. Problem is, it's supposed to be in the mid 80s, even up there. I'll figure...

Hello, I'm heading up to Roaring Brook on Sunday to climb Hamlin Peak and thus finish the Maine portion of the NE67. If time permits I'll go over to Baxter Peak too. In any event, my girlfriend has expressed interest in accompanying me at least as far as Chimney Pond, but obviously I'd have...

Hi all, My girlfriend and I are going to be spending a weekend in Vermont in 3 weeks, and plan to tackle 1 of the state's 4,000-footers. She is a hiking novice, but does go with me occasionally. Since we are staying in Stowe, Mansfield seems to be the logical choice. My question concerns...

Date of Hike: 6/11/11 Trail Conditions: Wet and muddy. Bridges in good shape. Large section of blowdowns between cabin and summit that have been there awhile by the looks of things (well worn herd paths formed around them). Special Equipment Required: There were mosquitoes early on, but the...

Wednesday June 8th, 2011 North and South Hancock via Hancock Loop Trail Conditions: In good shape. River crossings low and easily rock-hoppable. No blowdowns of note. Trail up North Hancock neither as steep nor as eroded as I'd been led to believe. Trail down South Hancock was fairly...

I was on Zealand and the Bonds this weekend, and there was an abundance of blackflies. Overall, they were perfectly manageable in the woods (and border-line unnoticeable at Guyot Campsite) but pretty insane on the peaks and ridges. The worst places were at Zeacliff and Bondcliff, but the Guyot...

And I in turn sighted MichaelJ near Guyot Campsite, where I was stopping for the night (after bagging West Bond) before doing the other two Bonds the next morning. He was easily identifiable as a member by way of his VFTT shirt :) I donated my fair share of blood, most if though was at...

Mt. Hale via Zealand Rd. and Hale Brook, 4/12/2011 Date of Hike: 4/12/2011 Zealand Rd is still closed, but completely snow free. The walking was easy but kinda long (about 3 miles each way from the parking area on 302). Trail Conditions: Wet heavy snow but with a decently hard pack if you...

I remember this well, the man in question was the owner of a local ski shop in my hometown of Bangor known as The Ski Rack, which is still in business. Sad story. The word from people who knew more about the situation is that Jeff was still alive and conscious after his initial fall, and was...