Cool (but well above freezing) grey day. No ice anywhere unlike Speck the week before. Good views, great day to be out. Other groups of 1, 2 and 4 encountered. Under 5 hours for the loop. Steep, somewhat wet and slippery from Bickford Slide to Blueberry. Balance pretty easy. Quite a few blowdowns across Bickford Brook trail higher up. Some are chest or head height or higher and have been trimmed underneath, but when snow comes they'll be in the way.

Also note, you can buy a 12 month WMNF parking permit at the store in Stow, ME.  I was pleased to discover that the $20 pass now runs 12 months from the date of purchase, unlike the old ones that ran for a calendar year.