Major Flooding in Northern NH and Western Maine will impact the AT

[peakbagger]

The AT was on the edge of ground zero for a major rain and wind event recently, rainfall amounts were the same as a hurricane, but winds were a bit less. Many major roads were flooded and closed, most are reopen with the exception of US RT 302 in the whites (see separate posting). The ground was frozen which meant that all the rain went down the drainages and exceeded their capacity and some new overflow drainages got established. Given the time of year, its going to be awhile before any formal assessment of trail conditions will occur although individual hikers will be heading out on the trails and hopefully will post conditions. The few bridges left in the Whites backcountry may have been damaged or missing and should be assumed to be until confirmed. Trees will no doubt be down in the trails or ready to come down. Plan on washed out sections of trails. This damage continues over into Western Maine. Currently the state of Maine has not updated road closures from a day or two ago but RT 26 through Grafton Notch is listed as closed, and Rt 27 is listed as closed although I think it may be tagged to the wrong location. Most forest service roads are currently gated for the winter.

It is probably safe to assume that tertiary roads like East B Hill Road, South Arm Road, Caribou Valley Road are washed out until verified in the field.

If hikers are out in the backcountry and see trail damage, please post the conditions they observed. There is no official site but https://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/ seems to be the most accessible and gets the greatest use. Keep in mind many folks do not use Facebook so if you post conditions on Facebook, please also post them on a site like NewEnglandTrailconditions which is readily accessible and linked to other sites.

[One Half]

My niece's school district (she's a teacher) has been closed all week because of the flooding. Crazy

[TJ aka Teej]

Flooding at Abol Bridge, washouts on the Katahdin Iron Works road, and the AT south of Monson a mess.

[chknfngrs]

Tough year!!

[LoneStranger]

Rt 26 through the notch was destroyed. Hikers are asked to avoid the Puzzle Mtn parking lot as residents unable to access their homes are parking there. No word on when it will reopen.

[peakbagger]

Sunday River was claiming they had 6.5" of rain, their drainage is just the other side of the ridge from Grafton Notch. I guess Sunday River Whitecap is out for hike anytime soon.