N
NH_Mtn_Hiker
Guest
Date(s) Hiked:
Sunday, August 8, 2004
Trails(s) Hiked:
Holt, Mowglis, Elwell, Back 80
Total Distance:
7.2 miles, est. 2000' elev. gain
Difficulty:
Easy except upper portion of Holt Trail which is difficult (very steep ledge)
Conditions:
Mostly sunny early, cloudy in the afternoon, brief light drizzle, windy on top, cool temps
Special Required Equipment:
None
Trip Report:
Andrew, Mark, and I set out from the AMC Cardigan Lodge at 9:00 to climb Mt. Cardigan via the challenging Holt Trail. With a 1000' elev. gain in the last .4 miles and slopes approaching 60 deg., it's no wonder why the AMC Guide describes the Holt Trail as "one of the most difficult in New England". I found the easiest way up the steep sections was to walk uphill faster than I was sliding downhill.
We reached the bare summit at 10:30. After checking out the great 360 deg. views we headed for Firescrew to the north. At Firescrew we had lunch then headed on up the Mowglis Trail to find Cilley's Cave, with little luck. We did find a couple of small caves, but neither of these were worth the trip. I wonder if Cilley's cave isn't further down the slope. This portion of the trail system (near Cilley's Cave) was poorly marked and the signs had conficting information. At the intersection of the Mowglis and Elwell Trails there were two signs with different distances to the same destinations.
After giving up on Cilley's Cave we headed back via the Elwell and Back 80 Trails. These trails were well marked even though the path was a little obscure in places. The Back 80 Trail had numerous blowdowns. We returned to the lodge at 2:15.
The ledgy areas of the Holt and Mowglis Trail were loaded with ripe Blueberries. There was also Moose scat just about everywhere except the summits.
Another great hike and well worth the trip... even if it wasn't a 4000 footer.
edited for speling :lol:
Sunday, August 8, 2004
Trails(s) Hiked:
Holt, Mowglis, Elwell, Back 80
Total Distance:
7.2 miles, est. 2000' elev. gain
Difficulty:
Easy except upper portion of Holt Trail which is difficult (very steep ledge)
Conditions:
Mostly sunny early, cloudy in the afternoon, brief light drizzle, windy on top, cool temps
Special Required Equipment:
None
Trip Report:
Andrew, Mark, and I set out from the AMC Cardigan Lodge at 9:00 to climb Mt. Cardigan via the challenging Holt Trail. With a 1000' elev. gain in the last .4 miles and slopes approaching 60 deg., it's no wonder why the AMC Guide describes the Holt Trail as "one of the most difficult in New England". I found the easiest way up the steep sections was to walk uphill faster than I was sliding downhill.
We reached the bare summit at 10:30. After checking out the great 360 deg. views we headed for Firescrew to the north. At Firescrew we had lunch then headed on up the Mowglis Trail to find Cilley's Cave, with little luck. We did find a couple of small caves, but neither of these were worth the trip. I wonder if Cilley's cave isn't further down the slope. This portion of the trail system (near Cilley's Cave) was poorly marked and the signs had conficting information. At the intersection of the Mowglis and Elwell Trails there were two signs with different distances to the same destinations.
After giving up on Cilley's Cave we headed back via the Elwell and Back 80 Trails. These trails were well marked even though the path was a little obscure in places. The Back 80 Trail had numerous blowdowns. We returned to the lodge at 2:15.
The ledgy areas of the Holt and Mowglis Trail were loaded with ripe Blueberries. There was also Moose scat just about everywhere except the summits.
Another great hike and well worth the trip... even if it wasn't a 4000 footer.
edited for speling :lol:
