| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Carrigain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Signal Ridge Trail, Desolation Trail, Carrigain Notch Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 9, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot was full at 9:30. Parked on Sawyer road with many other people. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Took the Signal Ridge bushwack on the way out to avoid the main crossing, but took the main path on the way back. Turned out to be fine—water was low and rocks were hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Signal Ridge is in excellent shape. There was some significant mud that was mostly hoppable on carefully placed logs and rocks. A few step-over blowdowns on Carrigain Notch. Most significantly, some erosion has caused a small cave-in about 1.4 miles from the junction with SR. The gap is too big for a step-over and could use some carefully placed logs. Ended up making a circuitous route through the brush and back to the main trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Lots of pups on Signal Ridge today. None on Desolation—the extreme slipperiness would make this difficult for some dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Someone hung a blue beanie on the Signal Ridge trailhead sign. |
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 | Comments: |
Autumn foliage, though just past peak this far north, still did not disappoint. The day was beautiful and clear until late afternoon. In a moment of madness, I hiked this loop clockwise. While I did successfully pick my way down Desolation, I wouldn’t recommend. The rocks were wet, slippery, and wet leaves made things even more slick and obscured roots, loose rocks, and holes. That said, I did appreciate the long straight walk afterward, with many colors to look at and wonderful cascading rivulets. There was something to be said for not ending a hike with a five-mile steady downhill.
There was a ton of traffic on the way up Signal Ridge, everyone polite and friendly and giving way when the conditions called for it. If I was smart, I would have had lunch on the ridge, which was open and calm and had stunning clear views, instead of waiting for the summit, which was as crowded as Penn Station on a Friday. Desolation lived up to its name. Barely saw a soul for the rest of my hike, except for one guy who seemed slightly concerned and asked if I had a headlamp. (To that guy—I had it, and used it!)
Excellent day on a beautiful mountain. The wildness of the Pemigawasset Wilderness was unreal. It feels like you’ve really left this world for a little while, while you’re out there. |
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 | Name: |
fluffycat |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-10-09 |
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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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