Carrigain Notch is a wild mountain go between Mt Carrigain and Mt Lowell within the Pemigewasset Wilderness. It’s a deep chasm that’s seldom hiked end-to-end except you need to penetrate deep into the White Mountain Nationwide Forest on a backpacking journey removed from a paved highway.
I not too long ago backpacked via the Carrigain Notch as a way to attain the north aspect of Mt Carrigain, to make an ascent from that route on the Desolation Path as a substitute of following the Sign Ridge Path, which is the most well-liked route, to the summit. I wished to climb Carrigain once more as a way to keep on the designated Forest Service campsite which is positioned just under the summit, which I’ve by no means camped at earlier than. I’m including new simpler journeys to my free on-line guidebook this summer season, Backpacking the White Mountain 4000 footers, and I wished to test to see if my route would make journey plan for a 1-night Mt Carrigain Loop.
Sign Ridge Path – the primary river crossing
The Route
I left the Sawyer Pond Rd Trailhead and headed up the Sign Ridge Path to the primary river crossing. The water was operating a bit excessive however I used to be in a position to get throughout principally dry by rock and log hopping. The bathroom bridges under the Carrigain Notch signal got here into view and I turned on the Carrigain Notch Path. I’ve hiked this path earlier than, however it’s been a number of years and I couldn’t keep in mind should you may see Mt Lowell from the path.
I used to be stunned, nonetheless, by how eroded, moist, and muddy the path has turn into. The final time I hiked it I used to be in snowshoes in April, however this time I used to be in path runners. One factor I did word, was an abundance of wonderful spots for wild tenting, only a brief distance away from the closely traveled Sign Ridge Path with some potential for small stream fishing. I’ve to recollect this the subsequent time I need a brief journey to the realm.
Regardless of the path circumstances, I used to be making glorious time. However, I couldn’t see a lot within the notch and solely received partially obstructed views of Mt Lowell via the timber. That was a disqualifying criterion for routing the primary day of a guidebook journey previous it. I’d hoped for one thing just a little bit extra dramatic for the primary day of the journey plan.
I quickly handed the massive rock on the path which is the start line of the Vose Spur bushwhack and began to climb as much as peak of land within the Notch, the place the Wilderness Boundary is. As soon as previous HOL, the path started a gradual descent towards the extremely eroded space of terrain earlier than the Nancy Pond Path junction. There’s a lot erosion, most likely from snowmelt, that the panorama has been carved up into tiny archipelagos, or so it appears, with streambeds operating round them. There was a time years in the past when the paths via this space have been very poorly marked however they’re a lot simpler to seek out and comply with at this time.
After I arrived on the Nancy Pond Junction, I turned left and headed towards Carrigain Brook and the Desolation Path junction. This was a spooky part of the path with towering vegetation on either side like a tunnel. I began making some sounds, clicking my poles and shouting “Mr Moosey” to keep off any moose that may come crashing via from the perimeters. This space is true wilderness deep within the Pemi and the isolation is usually a little intimidating.
The Desolation Path climbs Mt Carrigain from the north popping out at Mt Carrigain summit and firetower. It’s very steep, climbing 2500′ in 1.9 miles. The primary 1500′ of that climb are pretty straightforward over a path coated with spruce needles. The following 500′ is an intense vertical scramble over moist boulders and tree roots, requiring fingers/arms and toes to ascend, whereas the ultimate 500′ is a barely much less intense, however steep rocky path.
Figuring out that I might be dry tenting on the summit tent website, I stuffed up my reservoirs with 4L of water for tenting in a single day. That added near 10 lbs to my load and would make the climb far more strenuous. There may be an previous properly about 250′ vertically under the campsite on the Sign Ridge Path, used when there was a hearth tower on the summit, however I don’t belief the water high quality and most of my mates don’t both. There’s no telling what crap has been thrown into that properly through the years. The Forest Service signal warning folks about it has been eliminated, I famous the subsequent day after I hiked previous it. Your mileage could differ. I opted to hold water up.
Regardless of the added water weight, I made fairly good time on the climb, ending the primary 1500′ in an hour and the second 1000′ within the second hour. However between the humidity and my exertion, my clothes was completely soaked by the point I reached the summit. Sadly, it was clouded over and a bit chilly, so I layered up with a Polartec Alpha hoody and a rain jacket and hiked right down to the summit campsite, which is about 20-40′ decrease in elevation.
I didn’t have any beta about whether or not the campsite had a water supply and after scouting round it a bit, I concluded that it didn’t, so I proceeded to arrange my tent and make camp. I’d introduced alongside the brand new Tarptent Dipole DW 1 on this journey however shortly discovered that there weren’t any good spots to pitch it that have been degree and didn’t have roots or rocks in the midst of them.
I additionally discovered that the Dipole “needs” its tent stakes sunk fairly deep into the bottom, which was troublesome at this website as a result of there have been so many rocks within the soil. I ended up dragging the tent between a number of totally different websites earlier than I lastly discovered soil that was deep sufficient to get stick. For those who determine to camp right here, deliver a freestanding tent or a hammock.
As soon as the Dipole was pitched, I made a easy sizzling meal with a number of packets of immediate oatmeal in a Jetboil, and solely then did I begin to heat up and get snug once more. The tent website, just like the summit, was shrouded in cloud, so I received into my tent, become dry clothes, and warmed up below my quilt earlier than falling asleep.
The following morning I used to be woken up by a spruce grouse dive-bombing my tent, one thing that’s occurred to me earlier than at different tent websites. They get territorial. So I received dressed, retrieved my Ursack, and made some sizzling tea for breakfast earlier than packing up my gear. It had rained many of the evening, so the outside of the tent was soaked, however I used to be good and dry inside. There hadn’t been an inner condensation switch. To pack, I segregated the contents of my pack into dry and moist zones utilizing my pack liner and the schnozzle stuff sack I exploit to inflate my sleeping pad and took off for the 4.5-mile hike out.
The Carrigain summit was nonetheless socked in however I did get some views after I walked out onto Sign Ridge which is a number of hundred toes decrease. The cloud cleared sufficient that I may see undercast, a cloud inversion, over the Crippies, a definite ridge within the distance. Nobody is aware of why they’re referred to as the Crippies. After that, it was only a lengthy descent on the rocky Sign Ridge Path which I’m fairly accustomed to, having climbed Carrigain over a dozen occasions.
Having examined this route, I’ve determined towards together with it in Backpacking the 4000 Footers. Between the Desolation Path ascent, the 4L water carry, and the crappy campsite, it simply doesn’t go muster as a “enjoyable” journey plan. Regardless of that, this was a rewarding hike alongside a number of different dimensions and exercise, though I want the climate had been higher. I do like mountaineering on extra distant trails, just like the Carrigain Notch Path, and sleeping open air – and people itches received scratched in a satisfying manner on this route. I simply don’t suppose it makes guidebook route.
Really helpful Guidebooks and Maps:
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We solely generate income if you are going to buy a product via our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear opinions, newbie FAQs, and free mountaineering guides.