Mount Carrigain

Trail: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes

“Snowshoes really are the best choice out there. There were a few groups out there today without snowshoes (or spikes, it seemed) and they were postholing like crazy. The trail was a literal mess from the barebooters. Our group and others tried to punch down the trail as best we could. With the warming temps, spikes would be tough. There was even some balling of snow on our snowshoes, but overall, those were the best choice in footwear. Winds on the ridge were strong going up to the tower, and any prior snowshoe tracks were pretty hard to find. It was lightly snowing up on the ridge and at the summit. No views at the summit today, but overall a great day out on the trail!”

Trail: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail

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

“Snowshoes door to door. Sawyer River Rd had a few ski tracks and bareboot prints with fresh inch or two of powder atop a firm trench. 2 women headed out shortly before us and we followed their SS trench all the way to about a third of the way across the Misery Mile. At this point they had enough. The powder was getting deeper but more importantly the Side Slopes of Doom were quite intense and exhausting! Thanks to them for their efforts. My friend and I continued on slowly and carefully trying to cut the high side of the trail with our SS to keep from sliding downhill and we made it to the last 2 switchbacks just below the ridge when my friend hit her turnaround time and turned back. I kept going trying to get to the ridge for some pictures but began to feel better so kept going. The open ridge had a mix of snowdrifts and minimal snow coverage and still quite windy so my SS tracks may not be there for long. Back in the trees to the summit were more Side Slopes of Doom and I laid as good a track as possible removing a few leaners and keeping to the high side of the trail. Needless to say the snow is quite deep, soft and unconsolidated especially up high. And with the warm weather there will be serious postholing if not wearing snowshoes, so yes you absolutely will need snowshoes! And as Chad would say, did I mention you NEED snowshoes?”

Trail: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular

“Snowshoes on the whole time - nice trench to the summit. In the afternoon some sticky snow on the descent, but overall great day.”