| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Carrigain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Nancy Pond Trail, Carrigain Notch Trail, Desolation Trail, Signal Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, June 11, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Signal Ridge lot full at 7:30. Left a bike there and headed over to the Nancy Pond trailhead, which was empty 15 minutes later. Got down around 1:30 to find cars stretched a ways up from the lot on Sawyer River Rd. Nancy Pond pulloff was full by then as well. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Generally medium-high water levels. A couple crossings (including the one on the Signal Ridge flats) required using rocks that were submerged under an inch or so of running water. Waterproof and/or fast-drying shoes recommended. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Several well-behaved pups on the Signal Ridge portion |
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 | Bugs: |
Not too bad overall - a good morning slathering of DEET kept things tolerable. Mosquitoes were abundant on the bottom section of the Signal Ridge Trail. Best defense against them was to keep moving. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Nancy Pond Trail, Carrigain Notch Trail, Desolation Trail, Signal Ridge Trail, Sawyer River Rd/Rt 302 (bike)
Nice day to check out a new (to me) approach to Carrigain. Started with a humid climb up the Nancy Pond Trail. Cascades were nice; getting to the ponds and finally feeling the NW breeze was even nicer. First couple of miles below the Norcross Pond outlet were great for running, with a consistent mellow pitch and good trail surfaces (also a good amount of minor blowdowns, but nothing that really got in the way. Comes with the territory of a lightly-used section of trail such as this). That lasted until the first Norcross Brook crossing, after which the trail linked up with an old railroad bed through a flat area that felt like it sees more moose than people (saw some of the biggest tracks I've ever seen down there). Recrossed Norcross Brook (this one was one of the higher-water crossings), and soon hopped on the Carrigain Notch Trail for a little under a mile of more flats before hanging a left onto the Desolation Trail, which served up 2 miles of absolutely relentless climbing to the summit of Carrigain. Rested on the platform long enough to eat lunch, soak up the views, and regain feeling in my legs, then headed down the Signal Ridge Trail. This portion of the hike was quite busy (as expected), in stark contrast to the complete solitude that lasted all the way from Rt. 302 to the summit. It was definitely nice to end the hike on a familiar trail; this made the last couple of miles feel like less of a slog. Hopped on the bike and coasted down Sawyer River Rd, then back up a smidge on 302 to the car. |
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 | Name: |
Name |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-06-12 |
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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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