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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks The Captain, Mt. Carrigain, NH
Trails
Trails: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail, bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 28, 2015
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Sawyer River Road closed. US 302 lot well plowed. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Old first crossing is bypassed by the newer trailhead reroute. Higher up, most folks were going up the old route..surprisingly that crossing was frozen (not sure if I've ever seen it fully frozen)...the beaver pond crossing rock hoppable. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few duck unders on the ascent and ridge. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Sawyer River Road was well packed for snowmobile traffic.
Signal Ridge Trail flats were well packed for snowshoe traffic. Barebooters were still sinking a bit judging by tracks. Nearing the ridge, there was drifting this morning.
Shortly after passing the spring on Carrigain proper, we slabbed around to the spine of the ridge (ie wilderness boundary) and descended it to the Captain col. Thanks in part to the snowpack, it was generally pretty good going with only a few very brief scrappy areas. Also quite steep, but no visible cliff bands. Snowpack probably 3-4 feet.
Ascent up the Captain proper (between the cliff bands) was slow going, as it was a bit scrappier, and because with the steeps, the snow was belt high for breaking. Fortunately we ended up hitting the recognized highpoint directly. The snowpack around the summit plateau was adequate enough that we were able to go over to the other potential highpoint without too much of an issue (a bit thicker in summer).
Returning to the col, we ascended a little bit, then dropped down to Carrigain Pond, surprisingly in open woods the whole way, contrary to the horror stories I had read about. Scrubby on the east side, cliffy on the north, but the east-northeast side of it was smooth sailing. Very neat place.
Climb back up Carrigain was slow going due to the powder, but the relatively mild temperatures were appreciated. Did the extra hundred or so vertical feet up to the fire tower to get the views, then headed out on the well packed trail.
Overall, it clocked in at about 11 hours (roughly half of it off trail with generous breaks for the views) and about 16.2 miles.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2015-02-28 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
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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