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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Carrigain, NH
Trails
Trails: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 29, 2015
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: completely plowed; first car in the lot; only six cars when I returned 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: some no longer bridged, but all easily rock hoppable on both re-route (new trail) and original trail 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: had to step over 3 tree brancehs due to height of snow; no urgent maintenance issues; that said, potentially an issue on final ascend to summit (past ridge walk)--a tree has 'fallen' and is blocking the way--I walked around it; not sure whether it will fall to lower grounds when the snow melts; Currently held up by other trees; if it stays that high, it will be an easy duck under 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: 2 happy dogs on the trail; no issues 
Bugs
Bugs: noooo :) 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: nothing 
 
Comments
Comments: gorgeous day in the Whites; driving up, though the forecast still had clouds in the A.M., those did not exist anywhere--from Kinsmen, Cannon, Franconia Ridge, as I drove up 93N to the Carrigain trailhead; not a cloud in the sky

surprised to be first car in the lot; put on microspikes and kept them on til the trail juncture with the new re-route; switched to snowshoes; some post hole sections which I just walked next to; the ground/snow was frozen--I hardly made a dent

half way up ascend to Ridge I had to start trail breaking and yesterday's tracks had mostly been completely obscured by the fresh snow and, at times, snowdrifts; some drifts had frozen so I could walk right over them; at other times I was up to my knees in the fresh powder; mostly I dealt with ankle to mid-calf trail breaking all the way to the summit

the issue with the angled hiking reported over the past week or so has mostly disappeared--trail pretty evened-out; narrow in sections, but not at a side-angle

I put on some layers just before the ridge; incl. gloves--didn't need to use any on the ascend--spring is in the air

once I hit the ridge, the wind--while only 10mph or so--chilled the air more than I had anticipated; I did not stop as my nose felt it was going to freeze; when I reached the tower, I put on my big parka and face mask (no goggles) before heading up the stairs; that made it comfy in the non-stop wind; and I took in the 360 crisp, sunny blue sky views; have not seen the views like that since I hiked Carrigain for the first time several years ago; really a treat

kept all layers on for the ridge--luckily, just as I was coming to the end of the ridge on my return the wind disappeared; so I could stop, take some more pics; get rid of the face mask,...

I met the first and only hikers of the day half way on my descend; two men with dogs; they were as surprised as I was that nobody was hiking Carrigain on this beautiful-view day--they had used snowshoes all the way

took the original (closed) trail back out as the other two hikers had ascended using it--it was nice to be a little faster/to cut a little corner :) --when back on the main trail, I switched back to microspikes--still mostly frozen ground; though I post holed twice during the next mile--my apologies

9 snowmobilers on the road walk out, along with 7 cross country skiers and another dog

just as in the morning, stopped at the Omni Mt Washington vista point and took a shot of the hotel with the Presis--loved all the views today, including around the Pemi on my drive home

the trails being frozen/stable from the cold temps made for great winter hiking in the spring; the minor slush at the water crossings could easily be avoided  
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E-Mail
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Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2015-03-29 
Link
Link: https:// 
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