Mount Cardigan

this post has been long over due, considering we hiked mount cardigan on july 3rd and it is now august 10th; yikes!

for those of you unfamiliar the cardigan trail here are a few fun facts:

AMC Outdoors , June 2005

Difficulty: Strenuous

Distance: 5.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,950 feet

Estimated Time: 4-1/2 hours

Highlight: One of the best places to be in New Hampshire, with its 360-degree views and open ridge walks.



the weather at first looked as if it was going to hold- mother nature was being generous trying her best to hold back the rain. about halfway up you could feel the tiny rain drops making their way through the thick summer canopy of trees - ping....drip....ping.....uh oh its definitely raining. the thing about rain on cardigan, well,  it just is not a good thing. the closer you make your way to the top the more sheer rock ledge you encounter.

rain + rock lodge = slippery

the view was pretty amazing- in the middle of a massive rain cloud. we ascended up the mountain, not before long we were hiking above the rain

once the top was reached the sky began to clear

there is always a feeling of such accomplishment when you succeed, claiming the top of themountain as your own for a brief but beautiful moment. all the challenges faced along the way to the summit are long forgotten after that one breathtaking view is absorbed

weather atop of cardigan can be unforgiving - with no shelter, harsh wind & rain these beauties were hard to walk by without stopping to appreciate their natural and hard won beauty

anna, she is a determined pup. turning 8 this past winter she still manages to beat us to the top of any mountain we hike. she held strong on this hike, clocking in a little over 5 miles round trip.

cardigan mountain is a day hike you will want to add to your list - i can only imagine the stunning views she shares with us in the fall