conditions on Signal Ridge Trail (Carrigain)..?

[TrishandAlex]

Just wondering if anyone has any info on the status of Signal Ridge Trail? Hasn't been a trails condition report in a while...if anyone has any info, please pm me. We're considering doing that one soon but I'd like to have recent info before we head out.

I see that the access road still isn't open, according to the NHF&G road link....but they also have Ravine Lodge Road as being closed when it is in fact open. So if someone has info based on recent personal experience, I'd be much obliged if you could send it my way.

Muchas gracias,
Trish

 

[rocket21]

I'll be eager to hear if there are any updates as well. It should be noted that the water crossings may be tricky with spring runoff.

I see that the access road still isn't open, according to the NHF&G road link....but they also have Ravine Lodge Road as being closed when it is in fact open.

I believe the difference here is that Ravine Lodge Road is managed by Dartmouth, whereas most of the other roads on that list are WMNF managed.

 

[Jason Berard]

I believe the difference here is that Ravine Lodge Road is managed by Dartmouth, whereas most of the other roads on that list are WMNF managed.

There may be some truth to that....I just let the Pemi District know that the road is open so they can update the page.

 

[Barkingcat]

I believe the difference here is that Ravine Lodge Road is managed by Dartmouth, whereas most of the other roads on that list are WMNF managed.

Yes; from my experience, that is the difference between the two roads.

I, too, would be interested to know the current conditions of the Signal Ridge Trail.

I was last up there on May 25, 2007 and there was plenty of snow still below the site of the old fire warden's cabin and then in the col between the cabin site and the summit.

On the last section before the summit, the snow was still deep/high enough that I remember bellyaching like a baby because of all of the face-smacking low branches.

Sigh...

 

[TrishandAlex]

Thanks, folks. We don't mind some rotting snow -- up to a mile (roundtrip) of postholing would be fine. Doesn't need to be totally snow-free.

The road access is a biggie though. If it's not yet open, we ain't doing it...

 

[rocket21]

The road access is a biggie though. If it's not yet open, we ain't doing it...

I hear ya, but I will add that it goes by pretty quickly...minimal vertical, you can set a good pace and pretty easily do it in less than an hour one way.

 

[Frodo]

I have not been on the Signal Ridge Trail recently, but I did do a long hike in the Pemi last Saturday and passed by the bottom of Carrigain at the Desolation Trail/Carrigain Notch Trail intersection.

Anyway, from what I have seen on the SE facing trails in the area (Willey Range Trail and Nancy Pond Trail), I would expect the consistant snowline to be around 3800' on the Signal Ridge Trail (2+feet), with the short exposed areas to be snow free.

The Whiteface Brook water crossing will likely be high ( I did 5 watercrossings on the Shoal Pond Trail and had to wade thru 3 of them, so I would recommend taking the herd path on the left side of the bridge at the trail head.)

I drove by the Sawyer River Rd and it was still gated as of Saturday, but it definitely could be open this weekend...

Don't ya just love spring conditions? Getting quite close to carrying both deet and snowshoes time...

Only 7 months till winter...

 

[Wolfgang]

I see that the access road still isn't open, according to the NHF&G road link....but they also have Ravine Lodge Road as being closed when it is in fact open. So if someone has info based on recent personal experience, I'd be much obliged if you could send it my way.

Muchas gracias,
Trish

Trish,

As of yesterday, May 12, Sawyer River Rd. was still closed.

Wolfgang

 

[The Hikers]

Carrigain is second on our to-do list, so we would be interested in knowing when the road opens, too. We are planning to do Moosilauke by the Beaver Brook Trail on Friday.We have terminal Cabin Fever that must be cured.

 

[--M.]

We have terminal Cabin Fever that must be cured.

That sounds Pythonesquely bad.

 

[TrishandAlex]

Many thanks to "unregistered" who posted the recent trail conditions report on Carrigian and Sawyer Road (which is still closed). It contained exactly the info we needed, thank you!!

 

[rocket21]

*bump* Sawyer River Road is now open!

 

[TrishandAlex]

So I guess we should expect a slew of Carrigain TRs in the days/week to come?

 

[bryan]

put one up today. really good conditions the whole way.

bryan