Sawyer pond campsite

[hardyb]

I am planning a Carrigan hike on Sept 25, and I will be hiking in from the Kanc on the Sawyer pond trail on Friday afternoon on the 24. I have a couple of questions: 1st, what is the river crossing in the begining of the Sawyer pond trail like? is it a wading situation as the AMC guide book describes or there a way to cross on rocks? 2nd, is there going to be a problem getting a campsite at Sawyer Pond on Friday afternoon?

 

[maineguy]

Unless you bring your own rocks, wading is in the future. I don't recall it being much more than 6 inches or so, but I imagine that will depend upon the rainfall/runoff situation. It is immediately at the start of the trail, so you just put your boots on on the other side of the Swift River to start your hike.

 

[pocahontas]

Yes, as maineguy said, you can plan on wading across this brook crossing, it wasn't bad...short & sweet.
We did it at the beginning of August & there hadn't really been any significant rain leading up to that day.

As far as securing a campsite goes, we also hiked there on a Friday, we got there around 12 - 1:00 and had our choice of spots. There was no one else there.

That soon changed~~

Sawyer Pond is really such a beautiful spot ! !
However, it is very accessible to a lot of 'non-hikers'
because it is so close (about 1 1/2 easy hiking miles) to Sawyer River Road (which you can dirve down).

It may be different now, because we went in the summer, but on a Friday night, you may want to plan on sharing your solitude with partiers & kids

<<<not that there's anything wrong with that>>>

Have a fantastic time!! Carrigain will be great!!