Love Goat Films: Chapter 4 comes to a close on Mt. Cardigan

Trip Details

Date: May 22^nd, 2015

Total Distance: 5.92 mi (via Trimble Outdoors Navigator Pro on iPhone 4S)

Total Time: 3 hours 19 minutes

Total Elevation: 1876 ft gained

As my good friend BishopX goes on to the next chapter of his life, fatherhood, and leaves the mountain life behind we knew we wanted a true challenge for his retirement hike. We had talked above various hikes over the week and options, but sadly due to the heavy snow and artic temperatures northern New England experienced this winter there was still too much snow on the 4000 footers in spots that we really did not want to trample through. We came across the gem of Mt. Cardigan a few weeks back and discovered that the Holt Trail is sometimes labeled as one of the hardest trails in New England right alongside the Huntington Ravine Trail, North Tripyramid Slide, and the Flume Slide Trail. With the drought we are currently in and previous trip reports indicating that the trail was snow free we decided it was time to tackle this mountain and trail that is unknown to those who focus only on the White Mountains. This mountain finds itself on both the 52 with a View list and Tower Quest list.

AMC Cardigan Lodge

We started early, as the weather was predicting some much needed rain in the afternoon. The sun was out, few clouds in the sky, and the temperature was perfect. The AMC Cardigan Lodge was empty except for a staff member, but I am sure with the predicted great weather and Memorial Day Weekend the traditional start of the busy summer season the guests would start flocking in shortly. The trail is relatively short to the summit and we accidently added an additional 0.4 miles to the trip by taking the Nature Trail.

The Nature Trail eventually merges back with the Holt Trail. Even this trail was relatively tame until you reach your first part of slab. From that point forward it is basically slab climbing to the summit. It quickly breaks out of the woods and leaves you with magnificent views as you make it up to the summit over the open granite slabs.

The start of the slabs.

Looking out towards the Ossipee Range.

Trail just climbed up this slab.

Climb straight up.

The summit of Mt. Cardigan in the distance.

Firescrew Mountain

BishopX making his way up the slabs.

The last slab before the summit looks like it is a near vertical climb to the top of it, but it has enough of a slope and handholds along the crack in the rock to the left that it makes for a short challenging climb but it is over quickly. After that it is just walking up a bit more over gradual open slabs to the bare summit. It really is a short hike overall as we were at the summit in about an hour.

The last and most tricky slab. The trail is along the left towards that ledge that is sticking out.

BishopX has no fear.

I had mentioned to BishopX that I had never seen the fire warden actually in a fire tower and he threw back, “well maybe today is the day.” Come to find out it was. The State of New Hampshire only has them occupied on days when the fire danger is ranked a class 3 or above. With the drought that we are facing that means someone is in them every day. We got to go up in the fire tower, talk with the Fire Warden, and see what his job was like.

The summit itself provides amazing 360º views, but there was just enough haze today that Mt. Washington was just barely visible and there were little views past the New Hampshire/Vermont border. Regardless, we hung out up there for a bit before the cold wind finally made us move onwards towards Firescrew Mountain.

Looking northeast.

Looking southeast.

Looking southwest.

Looking northwest.

Summit carvings.

AMC Cardigan Lodge

Town of Canaan.

Firescrew Mountain and the White Mountains beyond that.

Windmills

Plenty of signs driving up to the AMC Cardigan Lodge opposing the windmills.

Ossipee Range (the Squam Range is faintly visible directly in front of it.

Belknap Range

Looking south.

Ragged Mountain ski area on the left and Mt. Kearsarge on the right.

Looking southwest.

Croydon Mountain

Mt. Ascutney

Summit marker.

Another summit marker hidden underneath the stairs of the fire tower.

Seems appropriate as that is what I will continue doing.

On Firescrew we shared a celebratory Small Town Brewery's Not Your Father's Root Beer. From there we hiked back down to the lodge to finish out the hike. The Manning Trail has some slightly steep sections, but as long as your boots have good grip they are easy. Eventually it becomes a nice walk in the woods as you start to get near the group camp sites.

Heading towards Firescrew Mountain and looking back at the summit and fire tower of Mt. Cardigan.

We passed a couple who thought this was a tent and was concerned about the camping rules in the park. Come to find out it is a painted rock. Not sure what it fully says.