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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Firescrew, Mt. Cardigan, NH
Trails
Trails: Manning Trail, Mowglis Trail, West Ridge Trail, Ranger Cabin Trail, Clark Trail, Holt-Clark Cutoff
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 2, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The main parking area at Cardigan Lodge is not plowed, but people barreled in there anyway. I parked in the overflow area, which was plowed. The ride in from Alexandria is rough and frost heave-ey, so hold on to your coffee. Shem Valley Road is plowed. It was frozen and washboarded in the morning, mudville in the afternoon. AWD recommended. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No issues. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Nothing that I could see. Who knows what's under the deep snow. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Sure, but not the way I went. 
Bugs
Bugs: Nope. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: There is ... a lot of snow here.

Most of my route was broken out by a combo of snowshoes, bare boots and skis. Snow pack is soft, so snowshoes are needed. Manning was untouched starting at the Holt junction. I broke out 1-2 feet of snow from there to just beyond Duke's Ski Trail, where it looked like a skier and switched into snowshoes and went up the ridge. Very slow going on this stretch, snow was deep and heavy.

Once on the ridge, much easier going all the way to Cardigan. No real ice to speak of. If it was there, it was buried. Breezy on the summit as usual, but not overly cold. Awesome views all around.

I came down WRT as I wanted to avoid the steeps on Clark. RCT was broken out, but the track had filled in, so I broke it out again. The descent from the cabin was easy with evidence of skiing and butt sliding down Clark.

Nice to meet and hike with Pierre-Luc and friend, who had driven all the way down from Quebec to hike Cardigan! They continued on to Rimrock, Orange Mt. and South Peak.

A tough hike up, but an amazingly beautiful day. Skiers definitely outnumbered hikers today!  
Name
Name: KenM 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kmacgray@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-04-02 
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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