Mt. Carrigain via Sawyer River Rd Bypass and Signal Ridge Trail - 1/16/13

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NH Tramper

Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
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Location
North Conway, NH Avatar: Cannon Mtn.
Date of Hike: Jan. 26, 2013 (please ignore the wrong date in the title... I must be a moron)

Trail Conditions: Haven't hiked in almost a week due to life's demand and remodeling so this one was overdue. We left the lot taking the Sawyer River Rd Bypass and it was well broken out and packed. A little circuitous but easy walking, but before reaching the cabin, we headed up to the road for even easier walking (on exit we took the road only). Signal Ridge Trail was in great shape (any past postholes have been smoothed over and the bed packed and flat). The only real crossing was easy as water levels are way down, and showing are many dry rocks. It looks the warm weather caused a rise in water levels last week, washing the snow on the rocks away. Thus the stream bed itself looks summer-like. There was one blowdown on the trail, in a grove on the further new section, but it has been well bypassed by the herd. We followed -- too big to move. We did note that the old trail was well broken and packed too from the looks of it, but we stayed on the new trail (I put a log on the other end to discourage its accidental use on the return). We also noted a lot of switchback shortcuts on the new hill/ridge, the one right before the new two-log bridge. It was kind of a mess in fact with all the random trails. I placed a couple of branches on the most popular ones hoping to encourage people to stay on the actual trail. It's strange that people will do this 14-mile hike willingly enough, yet can't be bothered to stay on a winding trail for an additional 100 yards.

Special Equipment Used: We used snowshoes on the entire trail and road. We might have been able to get away with bareboots but didn't want to take the chance of postholing the edges. Anyway, we'd rather wear them than carry them. Makes more sense. Trekking poles helped with balance on the snowshoes and during the crossing. They are also helpful for probing uncertain areas.

Comments: Led a Meetup hike on this one and was accompanied by Bill Robichaud (brobichaud here on the VFTT) and Meetup Peakbaggers Jim, Rich, and Rich's friend Ian. We were also accompanied by a friend and also-VFTTer Wayne Ruesswick (wayne here on the VFTT) who stayed with us for part of the hike. A great group. We were first up the trail today but were passed near the open ridge by two accomplished gridders with their oversized "Lauke" lookalike. On descent we ran into a gaggle of maybe ten Canadians (they were using snowshoes but when we saw them later most wore spikes only). The temps were kinda cool but nice. A very enjoyable and comfortable hike. Plus we could see forever.

Mike "Tramper" Cherim
Nottingham NH
 
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