| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Hanging Rock, Firescrew, Grotto Cave, Mt. Cardigan, Mt. Cardigan - South Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Manning Trail, Back 80 Trail, Elwell Trail, Mowglis Trail, Hanging Rock Spur, Grotto Cave Spur, Clark Trail, South Ridge Trail, unnamed trail, Hurricane Gap Trail, Woodland Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, May 5, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty at AMC Cardigan Lodge today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Many on this route, but none were of any issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Blowdowns: From what I recall, several scattered about on Back 80, Mowglis, and Clark. Erosion: The steeps on Elwell continue to wash away due to the grade. Hurricane Gap continues to wither and is pretty much a trench with water running down it. Clark Trail shortly below PJ Ledge is heavily damaged due to water and people cutting the corners and walking around rock steps (????). Back 80 has a brand new but very short relocation that was done just the other day; it is not blazed but is marked with green flagging. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
It was too breezy up high for them, but they joined me for the descent once I got back into the woods. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A mental recharge day called for a long loop through the Cardigan region, one of my happy places.
All of these trails were a mix of wet and dry and the mountain was pretty much shedding water everywhere after yesterday's rain. Mowglis Trail won the prize for wettest section, with several mudpits and minor areas of flooding. Mowglis above Crag Shelter (north-facing, shady trail) had some lingering ice monorail, but it was never enough for spikes. Hurricane Gap Trail also had some small stretches of ice up near High Cabin. Out in the open, ledges were mainly dry with a few wet areas as the water rolled off. Venture down to Grotto Cave at your own risk; it was a bit sketchier than I remember and there's a bunch of wet ledge and ice along the way.
A surprisingly quiet day on the mountain given the great weather. I saw three folks from a distance but didn't pass anyone all day. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-05-05 |
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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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