| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Carrigain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 21, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the winter lot for Sawyer River Rd. This large, dirt lot is plowed after storms. Sawyer River Rd is closed. It may be closed long past the standard opening dates due to an extensive washout along with other washouts along the road. Free. Kiosk. No privies. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Since I used the winter route on Signal Ridge, I had to negotiate two water crossings. This morning, in effort to keep my boots dry as possible, I was able to figure out routes that kept me out of the water. Upon my return, my boots were soaked so I just forded both crossings. Both crossings were ankle deep and not in fast moving water. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Sawyer River Rd road walk > Signal Ridge Trail and back.
Sawyer River Rd: initially some snow, but then the remainder of the road is dry and easily traversed. Bare boots only.
Signal Ridge Trail: not blazed save the first 0.25 miles and the reroutes. These are blazed in yellow. I purposefully started very early in the morning to capitalize on frozen snow. The trail opened with stable monorail with small segments of open trail. Spikes were fine for this. Then followed a mix of open trail, running water on trail, mud and snow. I elected to keep spikes on. This pattern of indecisiveness persists until 2200 feet when a gorgeous snow trail emerges. This trail is a mix of soft trench and stable monorail. As the temps were freezing at the time of my passing, spikes worked best for me. I met several others ascending the mountain and there were a mix of spike users, snowshoers and bare booters. No one was postholing (not that I care this time of year). Personally, the snowshoe users seemed to have the easiest time. In hindsight, I should have put on my snowshoes for the descent. I could have flown instead of the tedious process of trying to balance on the monorail so as not to posthole… Upon my return to the 2200 foot mark, I removed my spikes and bare booted to the end. There was increasing open trail and running water on trail for the early afternoon. On a side note, the observation tower was completely free of snow and ice. I removed spikes to walk up the tower.
If you need this peak, I strongly encourage you to get out there in the next few days to really enjoy the last of winter’s “good trail.” I advise to continue to bring both spikes and snowshoes as both had their places out here today. Boots will get wet. There is a small river running directly on trail in several parts.
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-21 |
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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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