| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Carrigain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Signal Ridge Trail, Carrigain Notch Trail, Desolation Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 26, 2011 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking, as usual, in the lot off of Sawyer River Road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Some stepping stones submerged at the crossing of Whiteface Brook on the Signal Ridge Trail and at the crossing of Carrigain Brook on the same trail. The crossing at the outlet of the beaver ponds is a little tricky right now, too. The Carrigain Notch Trail crosses Carrigain Brook immediately after the junction with the Signal Ridge Trail and all of the stepping stones are presently submerged. Your boots are going to get wet. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No new blowdowns to report on the Signal Ridge Trail. Several step-overs on the Desolation Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A fine, if long, hike for dogs with the caveat that the section of the Desolation Trail between 3,500 feet elevation and 3,800 is wicked steep, and short-legged dogs will have trouble there. Usual advice to carry extra water applies, as there's no reliable water on this route above 3,500 feet. Plenty below that level, though. Tuckerman and Polly both enjoyed themselves a great deal, but they're both zonked out now. |
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 | Bugs: |
Kazillions of mosquitoes on the Signal Ridge and Carrigain Notch trails in the morning; bug juice was a necessity. No 'squitoes but gnats on Desolation. Gnats and mosquitoes at the summit, and mosquitoes, though fewer, on the hike out. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
On the Carrigain Notch Trail, about three miles from the nearest trailhead, we found the weirdest thing I've ever seen in the wilderness: a blue balloon. Inflated. On the ground. What the? |
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 | Comments: |
I've long wanted to do this loop route on Carrigain. The Carrigain Notch Trail is one of the nicest in all the White Mountains, I think -- and right now there's a superabundance of both Pink and White Lady's Slippers on the northwest side of the Notch. The Desolation Trail, on the other hand, well, 2,500 feet elevation gain in 1.9 miles speaks for itself. (See the note about a very steep section in the dog notes above.) Buggy and humid, but a really nice hike. Saw just four people all day -- all of them on the summit. Photos at the link below. |
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 | Name: |
The Feathered Hat |
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 | E-Mail: |
stevebjerklie at yahoo dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2011-06-26 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.flickr.com/photos/99682097@N00/sets/72157627075945008/ |
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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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