Date Hiked: 7/22/2007

Conditions: N/A

Special Required Equipment: N/A

Comments: I am posting this to warn drivers about the appalling condition of the road to Gulf Hagas between Silver Lake and the Hermitage parking lot. The road consists of very frequent, oftentimes unavoidable, very large and deep potholes. I am very accustomed to dirt roads, and even when they're a bit rough I don't take special notice, but this is a big exception.

Road would be passable with a truck or SUV, perhaps a car with above average ground clearance, but I would not recommend taking a normal sedan in there. One particularly rough bottoming-out of my Mazda3 cost me my air conditioner, a punctured refrigerant line, and a completley ruined front spash guard, and possibly more (need to take my car to a garage).

Due to my car hemmoraging fluid from beneath the engine compartment after hitting a rock, we had to abort our planned hike and turn back towards civilization where road-side help would be more easily available.

I stress - I am not some wus from away unused to unpaved roads. I'm from Bangor and have been using dirt roads all my life. For me to actually post a warning about one is significant.

Avoid Gulf Hagas for now (at least from the KIW/Brownville side, maybe the Greenville route is better) unless you have a high-clearance vehicle.

Submitted by: Chris S.