Trails Used

Signal Ridge, Carrigain Notch, bushwhack

Trail Conditions

Notes

We took a left off Carrigain Notch Trail shortly after crossing the scree field at about 5.5 miles in from the parking lot. from there we followed the ridge up to the main scree field crossing the field and proceeding up the left side to the summit. the ridge was easy to follow without the use of GPS or a compass. Above the scree field, the herd path was easy to follow to the summit. there were several areas with tangles of blowdowns while crossing to the summit. on the way down we took an easier route by whacking to the NNE then looping to the right to a SSE direction back to the heard path below the scree field. This is a true bushwhack. We were able to avoid the blowdowns and steep areas up top and the scree field. We followed the same ridge line on the way down that we used on the way up thus avoiding the lower steep areas that you encounter if you turn off after the Rock. Please message me if you would like a copy of the track. NOTE: there was no water available after the main water crossing on the signal Ridge Trail.

Parking

plenty of parking at lot on Rt 302

Water Crossings

water levels are los so the crossing was easy and the feet came out dry

Wildlife

some but not bad

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Signal Ridge Trail, Carrigain Notch Trail, Vose Spur herd path, bushwhack

Trail Conditions

Notes

A worthy challenge today, tackling not only Vose Spur but also the connecting ridge to Carrigain so I could get my reward of sweeping views from the tower. The forecast was for potential rain showers, but fortunately there was only a couple occasions of drizzle lightly wetting things; the sun made quick work of that once it came out. I started the bushwhack up Vose Spur right upon the end of the last drizzle. The herd path to Vose Spur starts after (not at) the big rock at the south end of Carrigain Notch. The trail makes a bend left after the rock, and then you'll see an obvious path opening to the left (not marked by a cairn). It quickly becomes a stream and it's not always obvious that it's the herd path - but it is. After a few hundred vertical feet, it enters deciduous woods for another few hundred feet before entering the conifers for good. Someone has put down sporadic pink flagging to mark key locations of the path (they're more useful for ensuring you're on the right track rather than as a way to follow the trail). In general, if you're good at following such paths, you won't have a hard time staying reasonably on track. Once the herd path reaches the crest of the south slope of Vose Spur, it is pretty easy to follow to the rock slide. Occasional small blowdowns means you'll have to correct course a few times. Upon reaching the slide, move up along the right side for best footing. At the top end, the path exits to the left and then becomes quite steep and trickier to follow. You'll need to pull yourself up by tree roots, etc. Once you reach the summit crest, there is lots of blowdown and you'll need to navigate it to the summit on the far side. It was a nice workout to get here, and the temps were beautiful and the bugs kept at bay. I'm definitely going to consider this time of year to get in some of the other Hundred Highest semi-bushwhack peaks! Now for Carrigain. It is actually pretty easy to get to the col between Vose Spur and Carrigain if you stay on the N side of the Vose Spur crest on the way down - forest is relatively open. The col is a bit thicker, but it's not too hard to get to the rock slide below the NE sub peak of Carrigain. Some nice rare views from there. At the top of the right side of the slide is a small opening where it's evident others have gone before. But that route is only clear for about 50 feet - the next 200 feet or so is the crux, just straight up whacking through thick brush and doing your best to gain elevation. As you go higher, perhaps trend to the right to try to get more open woods, but you'll still need to work hard. It took me just over an hour to get from Vose Spur to the top of the sub peak. From the sub peak to Carrigain, there is a very faint herd path. Lots of little blowdowns means you must weave left and right along the ridge - but thankfully there's no huge deadfalls. Some snow patches were along the ridge in this section. Near the top of Carrigain the scrub gets a bit thicker. There is a nice small alpine meadow on the E side of the small bump just east of the Carrigain summit. My time from Vose Spur to Carrigain was 2 1/2 hours. Beautiful breeze and temps on the top. I only saw 2 people all day, on the Signal Ridge Trail. There were just 2 tiny avoidable monorails in one spot on the way down, the only actual snow on a maintained trail. The final upper elevations of deciduous forest (2000-2500 feet) are just beginning to leaf out.

Parking

As most know, Sawyer River Road is closed indefinitely, adding 4 miles to the round trip hike.

Water Crossings

Carrigain Brook is still running a bit high - had to take off my boots to ford it. On the way back, was able to rock hop due to more stable footing at the end of the hopping. Most would still want to ford though.

Wildlife

Some present, but thankfully not a nuisance yet! That will likely change quickly due to 5/19 and 5/20's warm weather.