NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Firescrew, Mt. Cardigan, Rimrock, NH
Trails
Trails: Holt Trail, Manning Trail, Mowglis Trail, West Ridge Trail, bushwhack, South Ridge Trail, Skyland Trail, Hurricane Gap Trail, Clark Trail, Holt-Clark Cutoff (Cathedral Forest Trail)
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, December 6, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: plenty of parking at the AMC Lodge - not too many people out in the frozen rain. Shem Valley Road better than usual and NOT muddy :) 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Black, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: all rock-hoppable 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Had to break out Manning Trail (only 1 set of tracks now, so, not really broken out). Snow/slush was maybe 6" deep - not bad. A little dicey on the ledges but I could usually find snow patches for grip. Once on the summit of Cardigan, I didn't like the looks of the Clark Trail - looked WAY too icy, so, I figured I would take the West Side Trail and then cut back on the Ranger-Cabin Trail. But, I couldn't find the Ranger-Cabin Tr - not sure what I did wrong. So, I decided to bushwhack east. I know I got close to the Ranger -Cabin Trail but still couldn't find it. Did find a lot of ledges that looked familiar but weren't. No visibility. Kept heading east, kept just missing the trail and finding some thick woods. Finally, intersected the South Ridge Trail just north of Rimrock.

From there I headed south on Skyland a ways but was afraid I'd lose that trail so I headed back up Cardigan as it was getting late. After South Peak, I tried to find the .1mi to the Ranger Cabin and went EVERYWHERE looking for that .1 mi segment. Found a white blaze and recalled the trail but something was different..... losing daylight I headed back to find the High Cabin which I then cut past down to the Clark Trail.

Interesting day out there!!!! I started to panic based on the time, but, I did carry supplies.

Still, fun and WET time!!!! Saw some skiers enjoying the, ahem, spring conditions but coverage was LIGHT and snow was slush. In their words, "You have to pick your turns carefully!!!"  
Name
Name: Becca Munroe 
E-Mail
E-Mail: beccahiker@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-12-06 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved