vose spur

[dr_wu002]

I have done Vose 4 times (only once without snow), and if you are looking to do them both on the same hike, then I recommend heading up to Carrigain and whacking down to Vose along the ridge. It is not as bad as people say...

If the weather is good it is fairly easy to navigate, but if the weather is bad you will need some sharp navigating skills. Though it looks straight forward on a map, the ridge constantly tries to draw you down.

Good luck!

I imagine it's easier to go Vose --> Carrigain though. From Vose Spur it's a 0.2 bushwhack down to the col. The talus field is actually wicked awesome with fabulous views all around. From there, navigation shouldn't difficult: head towards Carrigain and make sure you continue up until you hit the summit. Makes it easier because you can avoid thick stuff without losing your bearing because you know you're not there if there's still more up to go.

I bushwhacked down to the Carrigain / Vose Spur col... it was tough-ish and somewhat steep but very doable. My partner was having knee trouble so once in the col we bailed on hitting Carrigain. The whack down from the col was awful... although eventually we popped out on the big slide that goes all the way up Signal Ridge. We followed the outwash down until it filled up with too much water at which point we headed back into the spruce.

This is probably a good time of year to do the hike. Leaves are down -- it's pretty in there.

-Dr. Wu

 

[MichaelJ]

Just to be clear - the talus field everyone's been discussing is *not* the talus field crossed when 'whacking Vose on its own?

 

[dr_wu002]

Just to be clear - the talus field everyone's been discussing is *not* the talus field crossed when 'whacking Vose on its own?

Yes, when you're going up Vose Spur from Carrigain Notch you can hit a small talus field along the way that has decent views. From the summit of VS, when you bushwhack down into the col between Carrigain and Vose Spur there is another -- more awesome -- talus field there that has spectacular views into Zealand Notch and so on.

-Dr. Wu

 

[MichaelJ]

Hmm ... I might have to go back and see that!

 

[Keeper]

I've read that the bushwhack starts about .7 miles south of the wilderness boundary on Carrigain Notch trail and climbs a ridge. Apparently, there is a large boulder about 4 feet high which marks this location.

Is this the best place to start if going up Vose Spur rather than cutting over from Carrigain? How easy is it to spot this boulder?

 

[SteveHiker]

I've read that the bushwhack starts about .7 miles south of the wilderness boundary on Carrigain Notch trail and climbs a ridge. Apparently, there is a large boulder about 4 feet high which marks this location.

Is this the best place to start if going up Vose Spur rather than cutting over from Carrigain? How easy is it to spot this boulder?

You'd have to be blind to miss the boulder. And even then, you'd probably run into it. The boulder is very obvious and so is the start of the herd path. But the herd path disappears rather quickly. Once you gain the ridgeline, it's pretty easy to find another herd path though, if you're so inclined.

 

[NewHampshire]

You'd have to be blind to miss the boulder. And even then, you'd probably run into it. The boulder is very obvious and so is the start of the herd path. But the herd path disappears rather quickly. Once you gain the ridgeline, it's pretty easy to find another herd path though, if you're so inclined.

Is that WITH or WITHOUT snow......we musta been REALLY blind

Brian

 

[una_dogger]

I have done Vose 4 times (only once without snow), and if you are looking to do them both on the same hike, then I recommend heading up to Carrigain and whacking down to Vose along the ridge. It is not as bad as people say...

Good luck!

sounds good ...count me in...lets wait for good snow cover to liven things up a bit!