| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Carrigain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, February 24, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking lot is plowed and there were just a few cars there today!! |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I was really worried about the water crossing but ultimately had no trouble. The water crossing on the main trail is a problem for me in the summer. Today it would have been over my knees.
Before heading dejectedly back to my car, I took a look at the “bushwhack,” which is a left turn about 200’ before the water crossing on the main trail. This lead to a spot a few hundred feet downstream from the main trail water crossing. This spot was wider so therefore more shallow. I pulled on my contractor garbage bags and put on my microspikes over them and waded across. The water was just below my knees and no problem. I walked along the bushwhack to the next water crossing, and waded across. The water was never above my ankles. The third and final water crossing is about 0.2 miles later and I was only ankle deep for 4 steps. Those contractor garbage bags are the best! About 0.1 miles after the third water crossing, this bushwhack rejoins the main trail.
I came across another hiker who told me that the bushwhack is the “winter route” and that it follows the original Signal Ridge Trail. He said that it’s super muddy and wet in the summer. I don’t know if this is correct information but it seemed plausible! |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are three problems on Sawyer River Road. The first is a dirt/mud/leaf pile that is about 0.5 miles from the parking lot. Some people are referring to this as a slide and it might be - I don’t know - but it doesn’t have any rocks or boulders and is across the road where a stream comes down the hill.
The second problem is a big log (at least 18” diameter) completely obstructing the road just above the little cabin. The third problem is the previously mentioned large branches across the road less than 0.1 miles from the trailhead. Some super awesome person has already dealt with a lot of this one using a saw - thank you! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one that seemed to be having a good time, and he/she didn’t bite me so I had a good day. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This never happens to me - the actual weather was BETTER than the forecast! (No wind!!!!).
I didn’t know if I would be successful on Carrigain, today, due to the potential windchill problems and also the water crossing, but both turned out to be non issues.
Trail conditions are mostly amazing! Sawyer River Road is well packed down by snowmobiles, hikers, dogs, fat bikes and cross country skiers, and with the thaw/freeze over the last few days, it’s that perfect crunch/crunch/crunch surface to walk on.
Signal Ridge Trail up to the water crossing is mostly that thawed/refrozen snow that, like the road walk, is super easy to walk on. There is one particularly long stretch of ice that made me wish that I had my ice skates, but since that area is absolutely flat, even though I had no traction at all (in my microspikes), it was fine.
After the water crossing and before you start to climb the ridge, a lot of the snow has melted off the main trail and it’s that creekbed type footing with some thin ice over top. Not fun to walk on. There are a few sections of clearly rotted monorail (first time I have seen monorail this season) that actually made me laugh out loud. It was so funny that I posted a photo on Instagram.
The climb is awesome footing - no scary icy spots at all! Way better than when I hiked this in December!
Signal Ridge is packed down and actually bare in a few spots. I thought that I might need my snowshoes for it, but did not.
Between Signal Ridge and the summit is a section of sketchy sidehill degrading surface, with a lot of snowshoe postholes. Eek! But passable for me by going slowly.
Note that Desolation appears well broken out!!
Microspikes all the way today, my snowshoes and crampons went for a ride. I saw two ultralight trail runners, one dog, and one ice climber. |
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 | Name: |
Bikecamphikegirl |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-02-24 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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