Mt Cardigan information

[shamples]

After a long winter season, we usually start the Spring with a smaller hike to get going. Like Monadnock or Welch/Dickey, etc...

But next year, I'd like to check out Cardigan, which I have never done, as I've heard many great things about the summit. The problem is most of my maps and books are White Mountains so there isn't much info on Cardigan.

Is there a good source that has trail maps with the mileage and all that good stuff? I remember hearing people doing a loop with Firescrew (maybe Manning Tr?) and was wondering on the mileage of that loop. Or what other ways may be better up and down or whatever.

I really would like a nice map of the trails around there and maybe some write-ups of the trails themselves since I usually research all that stuff before attempting anything. I like to know what to expect ahead of time.

 

[Amicus]

The AMC So. New Hampshire Guide (2d. Ed. - published earlier this year) has good maps and decriptions of the Cardigan trails.

 

[AntlerPeak]

Older versions of the AMC White Mountain Guide described the multiple trails on the mountain. If the current edition dropped these, I don't know why it would, check older versions. Usually local libraries would have copies. They seem reluctant to discard old versions of guide books. There are various loop possibilities from the east near the AMC camp. It is a great mountain with excellent views and a day hike loop over the multiple summits is within the ability of most hikers.

 

[hockeycrew]

A possible book suggestion

I've never read it but AMC publishes a Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide. Hope that helps.

 

[HockeyPuck]

MT Cardigan From Cardigan Lodge.

Follow the Holt Trail for 1.1 Miles, Head left onto the cathedral forest trail for 0.6 miles. Bear right onto the Clark trail for 0.9 mi to summit.

Take the Mowgils trail (0.6 mi) over firescrew.

Keep Right and pick up the Manning trail back to the Holt Trail and cardigan lodge.

5.6 Miles 1850 Ft Elevation

taken from the Hikers guide to the Mountians of New Hampshire bu Jared Gange

 

[professor]

AntlerPeak said: "Older versions of the AMC White Mountain Guide described the multiple trails on the mountain. If the current edition dropped these, I don't know why it would, check older versions."

My old version (purchased in 1979) does have a map of Cardigan's trails, where my new version (purchased 2000?) does not.

Must not be room for all those great Cardigan hiking trails, with all the new regulations they have to describe?

 

[David Metsky]

They split off the southern NH mountains into a separate book. The Monadnock and Cardigain maps are now printed together on their on map. They used to be together on the back of the Carters (?) map? The Southern book is definately worth getting, lots of smaller mountains and hiking areas to explore with so much of a drive.

Most of the new text in the WMG is additional description and information, all of which is quite useful.

-dave-

 

[RoySwkr]

They split off the southern NH mountains into a separate book.

This was several years overdue, the WMG is already too large to reasonably carry.

Most of the new text in the WMG is additional description and information, all of which is quite useful.

Having a separate book greatly expanded descriptions of the southern part of NH. My impression on the WMG is that most of what was added was "suggested hikes" to compete with the 50 Hikes books, while the trail descriptions are more up-to-date there is less historical info than 20 years ago.

 

[David Metsky]

My impression on the WMG is that most of what was added was "suggested hikes" to compete with the 50 Hikes books, while the trail descriptions are more up-to-date there is less historical info than 20 years ago.

I thought the suggested hikes were added a few editions ago? The elevations added to the trail descriptions are the most obvious thing I've noticed, but I though that many of the more obscure trails ended up with more info. I also like the info at the beginning of each section, the organization is much more useful and makes it easier to find each trail description.

Anyways, we're away from the original question. The state park also has an 8x10 map that is useful to find your way around. Actually, two maps, I think there's one for eastern and western sides of the state park.

-dave-

 

[shamples]

Tremendous stuff. Thanks for all the feedback info. Looks like another book to buy and other stuff to look out for. Awesome.

 

[arghman]

Cardigan from Firescrew, yesterday

nice pic! Firescrew is one of my favorite spots, for the great view of Cardigan, fewer crowds, and it has a couple of very small bogs with cotton grass (which you can see in the picture you took).

 

[Davehiker]

State Park Map

Here's a link to the NH State Park map. It's a little short on detail, but is useful. The map is labled as the West Side, so I guess the eastern map that Dave M. refers to isn't on-line.

 

[shamples]

OK, picked up that Southern New Hampshire AMC book and that helped a great deal as it gave some detail into the particular trails as well as a map of the Cardigan and Monadnock trails.

So my thinking was to head up Holt Trail from Cardigan Lodge to peak Cardigan. Take the Mowglis to Firescrew and then down Manning back to the lodge. 5.2 miles round trip.

But Holt is supposedly steep for the last 1.1 miles gaining 1,450 feet in elevation in that quick mile. So as someone has already said, there are other routes such as Cathedral Forest and Clark off Holt to summit Cardigan.

But my question to anyone who has done Holt all the way up that last mile is, Is it really that hard? I'm someone who has done the Ammonoosuc up Washington and that is steep but that's my favorite trail in the Whites. I've done most the presidentials and many tough trails. The last section on Lafayette where it gains pretty good elevation in that last mile I remember having no trouble with that. So I shouldn't be scared of Holt all the way up Cardigan then, right?

 

[adamiata]

I remember the upper section of the Holt Trail being a little tricky when I did it a few years ago. There were a few slabs you had to scramble up with no handholds. I remember walking up it and feeling like my soles were about to lose grip at every step. At one point I considered turning back but decided that descending what I'd just come up would've been more dangerous than just continuing on. Though it was a few years ago, I remember the Holt Trail being more difficult than the Flume Slide.

 

[David Metsky]

Yup, it's steep in that last section. Lots of scrambling and using your hands as you climb over and around slabs. Lots of fun, though. It's a tough trail for such a small mountain.

-dave-

 

[NewHampshire]

Shamples,
You are gonna LOVE Cardigan. My sister and I just started to seriously hike this past year, and although we havent done a whole lot of mountains I would rank Cardigan near the top. You get the white Mountains feel for a Southern New Hampshire type hike (i.e. not a large amount of elevation gain.) Im sure Cardigan is going to be one of the mountains we re-visit often.
Brian

 

[shamples]

I will keep with the Holt idea. It looks real fun actually. I'm guessing the short trek over to Firescrew is well worth the time and effort also, so that sounds like a great loop to me.

 

[Waumbek]

I will keep with the Holt idea.

If you decide to do Holt, pick a quiet (and dry) weekday. Cardigan attracts novice hikers, who often start up or down that trail and decide to bag it, particularly if they have dogs with them, and that makes for logjams as they slowly retrace their steps.