Mount Cardigan

Trail: Manning Trail, Mowglis Trail, West Ridge Trail, Ranger Cabin Trail, South Ridge Trail, Hurricane Gap Trail, Clark Trail, Holt-Clark Cutoff, Holt Trail

Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky

“Another bluebird day on Cardigan. I realized recently that I hadn't been out this way since the last trail maintenance trip in the fall, so a visit was due. I would recommend snowshoes on this entire loop for ease of travel be safety with the current conditions. Snow is softening with the warm temps. The upper parts of Manning and Mowglis were the most challenging, from the Duke's Ski Trail junction to the Cardigan summit. There are currently many false snowshoe tracks (some of them dead end) that lead way off the actual route into spruce trap territory, mixed in with a bevy of ski tracks. Also areas of drifting. Snowshoes and a sense of adventure are 100% needed in this stretch. The Cardigan summit cone is currently a mix of exposed ice, crunchy snow, and bare ledge. Looks like previous snowshoers had found their own routes up around the icy bits. I came down West Ridge to Ranger Cabin and this section was mashed potatoes in the sun. The rest of the route down had been traveled by snowshoes and skis but was still soft. Despite the gorgeous weather, I only saw two other hikers. Skiers, however, were all over the mountain and five of them skinned up past me as I was coming down Clark and Holt-Clark Cutoff.”

Trail: Manning Trail, Mowglis Trail, Clark Trail, Alexandria Trail, Holt Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes

“Beautiful bluebird day, temps in the 20s and sunny. Lots of people were out today on the trails, especially backcountry skiers. We had calm conditions until we ascended Firescrew and Cardigan; the winds picked up once we approached the summits and were sustained 15-20 mph. Trail conditions called for snowshoes, the trails are too soft for barebooting and microspikes. Postholes were quite abundant on the summit in deeper snow sections. Microspikes and crampons could be useful up on the summit of Cardigan as there was some ice and snow-covered ice. It was nothing our snowshoes couldn't handle. There was also bare rock on the summit of Cardigan where the snow and ice has melted. Windy conditions caused us to lose the trail when we went to go down Clark, as the trail was windswept. We used GPS to stay on course and ascend safely. Butt sliding and sledding was pretty epic on the way back down.”

Trail: Holt Trail, Clark Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder

“Lovely light snow for most of the day, eventually clearing partially. temps fine when moving through the forest. Although trail somewhat packed lower down, as one goes higher, snow gets more and more loose; snowshoes and skis did well, spikes not so much (as we learned despite advice at the headquarters). Just above junction of Clark and Hurricane, a spread tangle of ski tracks caused us to fail to find Clark trail going farther. As alternative, went past High Cabin to S Summit. Kestrel readings: T=10F W=5 mph WC= 3F Good to get OUT ! Lots of skiers.”