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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Carrigain, NH
Trails
Trails: Signal Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, December 9, 2012
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I was surprised to find the summer parking lot nearly full when I arrived to begin hike around 1 pm. Met another solo hiker, presumably the poster in the previous report, coming down about a mile up the trail. So, I was not surprised to see over 30 people on their way down; perhaps others were looking to climb Carrigain in December without the 2 miles of road walk each way? One group must have numbered at least 20, way too many for the summit, which is in the Pemi Wilderness (perhaps they took turns on visiting the summit?).  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Just one crossing now after the USFS re-routing, where one now accesses the Signal Ridge Trail from the Carrigain Notch Trail about 0.3 miles upvalley from the old trail junction. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A couple of muddy spots on each of the three USFS re-routings, but each of these should be easily mitigated with rocks or perhaps a bog bridge next year.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Met a bunch of dogs that were cruising in the lead, as usual.  
Bugs
Bugs: N.A. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: N.A. 
 
Comments
Comments: I elected to go up and down without putting on the Microspikes in my pack to save the points for later, which may be sooner than later given the latest weather forecast. A few of the ice bulges on the mile-long westerly switchback on the Signal Ridge Trail required some scrambling and veg holds, but the remainder of the trail was fine, as the rocks were mostly dry. I forgot my walking sticks, but found a robust limb of maple that had seen previous use in the parking lot, so carried that all the way to the top and back. Enjoyed a wonderful sunset on the summit tower. Looks like the USFS has cached a pile of lumber on the summit to rebuild the tower, or something else?  
Name
Name: Hiker formerly known as Dr. D 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2012-12-10 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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