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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Firescrew, Mt. Cardigan, NH
Trails
Trails: Holt Trail, Manning Trail, Mowglis Trail, Clark Trail, Cathedral Forest Trail (Holt-Clark Cutoff)
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, April 17, 2015
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty at the AMC Cardigan Lodge. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Up near the first ledges on the Manning Trail, I was a little weary of the ice bridges. I got across all of them, but don't expect them to last much longer... 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Found a trekking pole underneath the fire tower on Cardigan and brought it back to the Lodge. If you were on top of Cardigan today (4/17) and you left a trekking pole behind, it's at the lodge. 
 
Comments
Comments: I basically saw it all today! The Manning Trail was snow-free (albeit with a lot of mud and slippery leaves/rock) until about the 2,000' mark; after that, snow and ice became more spotty. Once at the ledges, the snow became much deeper and unconsolidated and there was more ice. Stayed like that all the way to Firescrew. Silly me made the genius decision to not bring traction, so I barebooted this dangerous section. If you plan to go here in the next few days, bring traction at the very least. Snowshoes may be helpful too. Between Firescrew and Cardigan, the trail conditions were mostly the same, but some parts in the col were flooded. Going down the Clark Trail from the tower, those ledges were mostly bare. Beyond the warden's cabin, the monorail was stable for the most part. Down low, there was more mud, especially on the Cathedral Forest Trail. Holt Trail was mostly ice and mud.

Put short- trail conditions were a complete mess! The excellent views and ledgey goodness from Firescrew and Cardigan made up for it, though.  
Name
Name: Spencer 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2015-04-17 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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