| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Vose Spur, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Herd path, Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail, Carrigain Notch Trail, bushwhack |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 24, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Sawyer River Road winter lot is well-plowed, room for at least 10 cars comfortably. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All drainage crossings were relatively easily hoppable (some needed a big hop). Carrigain Brook was easy to walk across, flowing but very shallow. Crossing heading up Vose ridge was solidly bridged. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Nothing of note. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
- |
|
 | Bugs: |
- |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
- |
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|
 | Comments: |
For a cloudy, snow/freezing rain-type of a day like today, it might as well be Vose Spur.
Six of us die-hards headed out, this tougher of the New England 100 Highest bushwhacks squarely in our sights. The road walk and Signal Ridge Trail were broken out, no surprise. (thanks to those who came before ðŸ‘ðŸ») The Carrigain Notch Trail, though, was not -- also no surprise -- though the slight depression along the trail corridor indicated it has been traveled at some point this Winter.
We didn't take the "traditional" route up, instead ascending the long southwest ridge from its low point, leaving the Carrigain Notch Trail about 0.2mi before the "big boulder + birch logs" area where many head up. This ridge provided a more consistently open, slightly more gradual ascent, and was more direct, saving us some trail breaking effort. Not long after leaving the trail, we met up with a sizable drainage which lay between the Vose ridge and another smaller one to its southwest. We traveled along the drainage and eventually crossed it to pick up the start of the Vose ridge proper, and simply followed it all the way up to the upper talus field.
At the talus field, we headed right for its upper-right corner, exited straight ahead, then up and around to the peak from the west, rather than the traditional southern approach many take by exiting the field at the left. We did need to go around a sheer rock wall and climb a short, steep section to come up onto the summit itself, but we all agreed that was much easier than the sickly steep slope along more popular (?) southern path would have been, especially in Winter.
Thanks to Pam, Beth, Lynn, Mark, and Mike for yet another awesome hike. It's been a great winter of serious adventure so far; you guys really rock! 98 / W100 |
|
 | Name: |
Erik Bertrand |
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 | E-Mail: |
erik@bertpc.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-02-24 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/f2c5371ac8559a886ceaebef07fc2d64d7f7e222/?layer=CalTopo |
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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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