Ed'n Lauky
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
- Messages
- 1,802
- Reaction score
- 168
We left from Cardigan Lodge up Holt to Grand Jct. Took Vistamont Tr. to Mt. Gilman (Orange Mt.) Skyland Tr to Rimrock, South Ridge Tr. to South Peak, and Warden's cabin then straight up the ledges to summit of Mt. Cardigan. Mowglis Tr. to Firescrew then Manning Tr back to Holt and the Lodge. There are magnificent views from the tops of all these mountains.
The trails were all in generally good condition. There is one huge blowdown on Vistamont as you head up the steeps to Gilman. It requires a bushwhack to get by. A second blowdown a bit higher up can be squeezed by. There is another difficult blowdown between Gilman and Rimrock.
There are some mud bogs on Skyland and Manning but they can be crossed fairly easily.
Although the hike is snow free, there was a bit of ice on Manning and one stream is still bridged.
From the time we left the car until just below the summit of Cardigan we saw no one. There were a few folks on the top. We passed only two on the way down.
The views from the top are spectacular. You could see Mt. Washington to the north and Mt. Monadnock to the south. The temps were mild today and it was very comfortable on the top.
The black flies came out as it the day warmed up. I tried Natrapel first but it didn't work too well, so I used my Eucalyptus spray which worked better. Back at the car in the early afternoon the black files were terrible.
The past three weeks Lauky and I have done Major-Straightback, Chocorua and Cardigan all of them basically snow free with some of the absolutely best views (spectacular is the word) in New Hampshire. This is the time of year to get these peaks.
7.7 miles, about 2200' elevation gain.
[email protected]
The trails were all in generally good condition. There is one huge blowdown on Vistamont as you head up the steeps to Gilman. It requires a bushwhack to get by. A second blowdown a bit higher up can be squeezed by. There is another difficult blowdown between Gilman and Rimrock.
There are some mud bogs on Skyland and Manning but they can be crossed fairly easily.
Although the hike is snow free, there was a bit of ice on Manning and one stream is still bridged.
From the time we left the car until just below the summit of Cardigan we saw no one. There were a few folks on the top. We passed only two on the way down.
The views from the top are spectacular. You could see Mt. Washington to the north and Mt. Monadnock to the south. The temps were mild today and it was very comfortable on the top.
The black flies came out as it the day warmed up. I tried Natrapel first but it didn't work too well, so I used my Eucalyptus spray which worked better. Back at the car in the early afternoon the black files were terrible.
The past three weeks Lauky and I have done Major-Straightback, Chocorua and Cardigan all of them basically snow free with some of the absolutely best views (spectacular is the word) in New Hampshire. This is the time of year to get these peaks.
7.7 miles, about 2200' elevation gain.
[email protected]
